#automatic tap timer

[ventismacchiato]

14 stuck with you — gold rush !

scaramouche x gender neutral reader

FLASHBACK — PREDEBUT

SCARA’S POINT OF VIEW

From the age of seven, Scara's life had been meticulously mapped out for him, each step carefully dictated by his mother. He never really understood what it meant to have a dream, because the only dream that mattered was hers. Whatever path she carved for him, he walked without question, even though it never felt like his own. His mother had been a star, an idol adored by millions, and from the moment he was old enough to stand, she began pushing him towards the same spotlight.

He’d seen clips of her on stage — laughing, singing, shining — but when he looked at her, that wasn’t the woman who raised him. The mother who showered him with cold praise, forced him through grueling training sessions, and demanded perfection from him was a stranger in comparison. It was as if she lived in two worlds: the adored idol everyone saw, and the distant, sometimes cruel figure he called mom.

As he grew older and the demands of training intensified, the resentment began to settle in his chest like a heavy weight. The idea of becoming an idol, once something that had been drilled into him since childhood, now felt like a prison. He watched his mother perform with a mixture of awe and bitterness. She had everything, and yet, no matter how hard he tried it didn’t bring her any closer to him.

He watched her performances, mesmerized not by the dazzling lights or the applause, but by the sea of faces, all of them adoring her. He didn’t long for the idol life itself — the rehearsals, the endless pressure, the fake smiles — but for the one thing it seemed to offer: the love. The kind of love that came without question, without effort. What would it be like, he wondered, to be loved by so many? Could that love ever fill the emptiness inside him? The aching space where the warmth of a mother should have been? 

Would anything(one) ever fill that void? //

It was another late night, just like the countless others that had blurred together in the past year. The fluorescent lights above flickered and hummed, set on an automatic timer. As Scara moved through the hallways, they snapped off behind him, leaving the space in silence, save for the echoes of his footsteps. It was late — far too late for anyone else to be here. Who else would be foolish enough to be training at this hour?

He rounded the corner and paused when he saw a dim light spilling from the practice room. It was you — slumped against the wall, looking like you might’ve passed out mid-session. He wasn’t surprised. You were the only other trainee who seemed to have the same tireless obsession with training as he did. The only one who shared his endless need to push further, even when your body begged you to stop. He’d be more shocked to not find you there.

He pushed the door open quietly, shutting off the speaker blaring the same practice song on repeat. The room was quiet now, but the exhaustion in the air felt thick.

He glanced at you again, lying there with your head tilted awkwardly against the wall, your eyes closed as if you were trying to escape the world. It was a sight he’d seen too many times in the mirror. 

Part of him considered just starting his practice — pretending you weren’t there and taking over the space like he always did. But then he hesitated, letting out a small sigh. As much as he didn’t like to admit it, he wasn’t heartless. Your face held less color than usual. He walked over, nudging your leg with his foot, watching you stir but not wake up.

He tapped your cheek lightly, his fingers cold against your skin. "Hey," he said, his voice almost too soft for someone like him. "Wake up."

You startled, eyes snapping open, and you sat up so quickly that the world around you seemed to tilt. You blinked, disoriented, like you were trying to make sense of the room spinning around you.

"Fuck," Scara muttered, stepping back a little as you swayed on your feet. He noticed the faintly pale color of your face and how your hands shook when you reached up to rub your eyes. “You look like shit.”

You tried to wave him off, but your dizziness made it clear you weren’t. Scara sighed, his gaze briefly flickering to the corner where his leftover sushi and energy drink sat. Without a word, he grabbed both and handed them to you, the sushi still cool and slightly squished from being in his bag too long. Better than nothing.

"Here," he said, his voice a little sharper than he intended. "Eat something. You’re stupid to train without eating." He paused before adding, his tone almost annoyed but with a hint of something else — something like concern, "I can’t use the room if you’re still here." Otherwise you’ll burn out. He wanted to add. But he kept his mouth shut.

You took the food from him, still dazed, but something in his words seemed to register. Scara stood there, his arms crossed as he watched you take a bite of the sushi, then sip the energy drink, both of you in the awkward silence that came from two people who’d never quite figured out how to talk to each other outside of training. Your groups were going to begin joint training next week, he assumed you’d both be less awkward like Kazuha had mentioned. 

"You’re not the only one who wants to make it, you know?" he muttered. "But you won’t make it if you’re dead on your feet."

You swallowed, still feeling the remnants of dizziness, and stared at the floor for a moment, the words gnawing at you. Then, before you could stop it, you let out a laugh — bitter and low.

"I don't know... Sometimes I'm sitting here like, do I even deserve any of this?" you muttered, almost to yourself as you poked at the sushi.

Scara looked at you like you’d just said something absurd, his expression unchanged. "That’s so fucking irrelevant.”

You blinked, thrown off by his bluntness. "Wow, you sure suck at comforting," you shot back, an edge to your tone despite the exhaustion. 

He didn’t flinch. "Do you want it?" he asked, almost nonchalant, but there was a strange weight behind the words.

You looked up at him, confused. "...What?"

"If you want it, that’s all that matters," he said, his gaze steady and unwavering, like he was daring you to argue.

You met his gaze, nodding stiffly. "Yeah... I guess I do want it."

He gives a single, sharp nod in return. "Then stop wasting time. Just keep going." 

He turned to make his way back to the speakers, but for some reason, his feet felt heavier than they should. What the hell was that?

It was a stupid thing to say. "If you want it, that’s all that matters." He didn’t even believe that. His passion had been dead for a long time, buried beneath the pressure and expectations. He didn’t want it anymore, not like this. But it didn’t matter, because that wasn’t his problem. Not anymore. 

Still, as he reached for the speaker, he glanced back at you, and something caught him off guard. The way your eyes had sharpened after his words, like you’d found something in them. A spark. A flicker of want, something raw, something real. Because of something he had said.

It made him pause, just for a second.

He didn’t get it. Why did that look bother him so much?

Hypocrite, he thought. I’m telling you to keep going, but I’m barely hanging on myself.

And yet, seeing that spark in your eyes — that tiny flicker of hope — was enough to make him feel... something. Maybe it was the smallest hint of his old drive, or maybe he was just sick of standing in the shadows of his own doubts. Either way, it made him want to keep going, too. To not give up, even if he couldn’t figure out why anymore.

He shook his head, muttering under his breath as he adjusted the speakers. "Whatever."

He could’ve been lying, telling you whatever he thought you needed to hear. But for the first time in a while, he wasn’t sure if it was just for you, or if it was for himself, too.

From the very beginning, you were a walking conundrum to Scaramouche. Determined, relentless, with a fire that matched his own. Every time he set his expectations high, you reached up and snatched them away, tearing them apart and forcing him to rebuild his entire worldview. He became used to it. Addicted to it. To the erratic look in your eye when you finally beat him. 

You made him feel like he was always running, always chasing something…or someone. The routine he had perfected for himself was suddenly irrelevant, because with you, there was no rhythm. No predictability. His relationship with you was the only dance he did with two left feet. He didn’t know how to dance with you. How to be with you. At one point he gave up on learning the choreography. It was never the same thing twice with you.

But for some reason, he wants to keep dancing with you. 

Before you, Scara never really wanted anything. He had always been the best, that’s what happens when you’re trained to the bone, until you’re nothing but skin and worn muscles. And he liked being the best. It was the only thing that made him feel like he mattered, even if it was just for a moment. He liked the way other trainees turned their heads when he walked into a room. He liked being chosen first every week. It was the only validation that made him feel worthy and worth something to his mother, who had never given him much of that.

But then there was you.

You worked just as hard as he did — harder, in some ways. You were better than him, but he’d never admit that out loud. Not to you. The first time you scored higher than him, it sparked something inside of him. Something like… challenge. Was this what his mother had felt when she wanted to be an idol? Was that why she pushed him so hard? Maybe. 

But when he looked at you, all he wanted to do was beat you. And so he did. He tried, and he tried, but you both kept outdoing each other. It was maddening, but in a strange way, it felt refreshing. Finally, something wasn’t handed to him. He had to work for it, just like everyone else.

Was it his hatred for you that drove him? His hatred for his mother, for everything she’d demanded of him? He didn’t quite know. He didn’t care to figure it out. All he knew was that it felt good. It felt real.

But it wasn’t supposed to get this bad. The glares you sent him when you crossed paths in the hallways, the bitter words exchanged that cut deeper than they should have. The tears you shed because he’d said something too harsh, and the way it gnawed at him afterward. But neither of you could back down. Not anymore. You both were too far gone. 

And then there were the moments where the competition wasn’t so loud. Where you both pushed your bodies past their breaking point, too tired to go on, and collapsed in the same practice room, side by side. Waking up just to drag yourselves through another grueling session, pushing harder, trying to outdo one another.

It wasn’t easy being with you. Scara never really knew how to be nice, how to soften his edges, but with you, it was harder. Every time he looked at you, he felt like he needed to try better. To be more than the ruthless competitor, more than the cold, distant rival. What a stupid fleeting thought he’d once had, the idea of you two being friends. 

But then, just as quickly, that competitive fire would flare up again, and he’d remember what he really wanted. He’d remember that look in your eyes when you beat him.

And suddenly, he wasn’t sure whether he wanted to hold onto the fire or let it consume him entirely. 

stuck with you!

masterlist — prev | next

i hope this made sense 😭 not a lot of plot but i hope it gave some background and insight to scara and how the rivalry started

all the writing was in scaras pov! but as usual the smau portions will always go back and forth between the two

was gonna make this a flashback and present day chapter but i thot it wud be too confusing so im splitting it into two (short chapter sorry!)

i thought it would be weird to include an interview in the flashback chapter but they will be back in the next chapter!

pls comment or send me an ask if u enjoyed i need motivation 🙂‍↕️

comment on the MASTERLIST if i can use ur user as a fan in the au!

synopsis — after the disaster that was the live award show, where you and scaramouche got into an argument on stage after both of your groups got a tie for top artists, your guys' PR teams have been in shambles trying to scrape up your mess. that's when the idea to send you both off with some other idols to a remote location for a survival dating show to mend your public image comes up. before you know it your bags are packed and you’re on a plane to a remote island. the only obligation is you need to end up with scaramouche at the end of the show, whether you end up liking him or not doesn’t matter to your managers as long as the show’s ratings stay high. whatever you do in between to get there is up to you!

notes — guys i’m on winter break i can’t wait to do NOTHING for a month 😭🙏

taglist — @na1lea @cindywasneverhere @lunavixia @aestherin @mlaakai @camvrin @retiredmommylover @iheartpieck @cartierfiles @loveariel @silly-ez @mochipls @pomeiu @flowerypesky @creammpuff @boxdisappeared @kissingkzuha @webbywill @kazusboyfriend @s3xpistolss @bunns-wonderland @lordbugs @localgirlywithnolife @kosumos @danfelions @featuredtofu @pinxeajin @haeunoo @scaradooche @pglt19 @chemiru @childesbabygirl @simonisferal @shutingstar @ttalgi @esuz @tokkishouse @kitsuvil @scarasmood @ihearttori @nomurahayami @starringyau @androxphobic @reivelmin @animeobsessed56 @femaholicc @vi0let-writes @izayumi-chan @aloflapse

[neovillains]

10,000 TIMES OVER | GOJO SATORU

syn. they would choose each other ten thousand times over.

── gojo satoru & fem-bodied!reader, black mirror!au, futuristic!au, strangers to lovers!au, soulmate!au in an unorthodox sense, alternate universes & different lifestyles, longing, infidelity, angst to fluff, suggestive, minor pairings: gojo satoru & utahime iori, geto suguru & fem-bodied!reader | word count : 7.0k words ( minors, ageless & blank blogs: do not interact )

special note. this fic is based on the black mirror episode, hang the dj. also, please note that every instance is a different universe, so it's a different lifetime for gojo and reader. [ a small playlist ]

FIRST INSTANCE

It took you two hours to get ready. With hair that is as stubborn as you are, it’s the main culprit as to why you’re running late. In the satin white dress that traverses down your body, what your wardrobe assistant had voiced to be the best attire for this event with a pair of royal blue heels to go along with it. You held up a questionable glance at the ensemble when it was all put together, but again, the artificial assistant persisted that this was the best look for tonight. The baby blue taxi sits in front of your house, the engine running lightly as you jog slowly down the pavement, rushing as the motion sensors of the vehicle lights up and the door automatically opens. 

Hopping in, the robotic hum of the driver comes to life, its stiff neck twisting as it places its arm against the seat of the front passenger side. “Welcome,” the taxi android thrums, speaking your name. “You are ten minutes late. Due to your tardiness, we will be arrive at La Grande past your schedule. Are you fine with that?”

“Yes,” you breathe. If I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting in this car. With a curt nod, the android faces forward, arms moving to put the car into drive as his foot lightly taps on the gas pedal. The car ride is occupied with the sweet melodies of melodic rain patter as the taxi computer assistant can detect your distress. 

Do not worry, it states, hooking up to your phone data, pulling up your dating app. Gojo Satoru will adore you. You scoff, shoulders dropping as you fall back into the seat. “How are you so sure? You don’t even know if we’re compatible yet.” 

I am trying to offer you words of comfort, the female automated voice states. I apologize if I’m failing to meet your standards. Would you like to complete a survey to help better your experience? 

You roll your eyes, propping an elbow up against the car door as you start staring out the window. “Maybe another time,” you whisper.

This got exhausting. Going out on dates in hopes to meet your match, only for all this effort to go to waste when the data collection to finally be complete and given a low score. Though, Gojo Satoru’s dating profile did pique your interest. A handsome man with strikingly white hair that it looked unreal and blue eyes to match his impossible, the algorithm seemed to be bettering itself everyday for such a handsome man to be paired with you. 

With every dating profile came the standard information. Your date of birth, gender, star placements, and anything that the computer system deemed important. Little fun facts and quirky shows of personality prohibited as it only allowed for everything relevant. He’s a Sagittarius, which seems interesting enough. You didn’t know what to make of any of the information, but you just needed something to keep you busy during the drive. You tapped away on the screen, your recently done cutiles shining as your nails are adorned in simple French tips. A timer starts to flash in front of you, indicating that there are three minutes left until arrival. 

Clicking the power button to your phone, you slip it into your purse as you look through the car window. You can see the restaurant a distant away, ash brown walls and tinted windows as a sign hangs over, a light gray reading its name. You’ve been to this restaurant countless of times before, where you’re sure that the moment you step foot inside, the employees will quickly recognize you. They probably deem you as that girl who has yet to meet her one hundred-percent match yet, finding it completely and utterly embarrassing. 

The moment the taxi was safely parked and the door was opening, you jumped out. Heels clicking on the pavement as your hips swayed with your movement. You stopped getting nervous over these dates a long while ago, but there was something on your chest that made it feel so tight as every step you take sounded against the ground. When you approached the door, you were immediately greeted with a friendly nod as the man reached for the handle, holding it open for you. 

You reached for your phone from your purse and pulling open the dating app, holding it up to the scanner. With a quick chime, the machine before you buzzed as green lit up and your name reading across the screen. Glad for you to finally arrive, it greeted you. Your date, Satoru Gojo, waits for you at booth ten. Good luck!

You started walking over the moment it told you the table number, memorizing the restaurant by heart as you took a right turn. You manuevered yourself past the tables, making sure to be cautious of rushing hosts and waiters before you see the number ten in one of the booth racks. Immediately, your phones buzz the moment you’re in close proximity of one another, calling for the gentleman’s attention before he realized your presence. He lets his phone drop back on the table, standing up tall.

Your eyes widen, realizing just how tall 6’7” is as he looks down at you. You ignore his greeting, it all coming out muffled as you take in his large statue. Instead, you guffaw. “Wow…”

He laughs, pearly-white blinding you as he nods. “Yeah, I get that a lot.” 

He helps you by pulling out your chair, not sitting back down until you do. “I know we know each other’s names already from the dating app, but my name’s Gojo Satoru.”

“Gojo Satoru,” you say, trying his name on your tongue before introducing yourself. He reciprocates, tasting your name on his lips before smiling, “That’s a pretty name.”

You don’t get a chance to comment on his statement when the waitress comes over, a cheery smile on her face as she clasps her hands together. “Hello and welcome to La Grande. I’m Utahime and I’ll be your waitress tonight. Have you guys started your order yet?”

“No,” you shake your head, reaching for your phone. “Can we get a few more minutes, so we can, please?” 

Utahime nods, glancing at the both of you before disappearing from your sight. Gojo scrunches up his eyebrows, eyes flickering from you and back to the waitress. You’re scrolling through your phone and something tells me that he should be doing the same. “I’m sorry, I’ve never been on one of these dates before. What are we supposed to be doing?”

Your thumb stops as you scrunch up your eyebrows together at his statement, bewildered at his admittance. “What?” you gasp. “You’ve never been matched before? That’s one of the first things you do the moment you turn eighteen. How old are you?”

Gojo chuckled. “Yeah, typically, but there’s a route that you can take if you don’t want to initially start. I decided to do that first before I wanted to take things serious.”

“Oh,” your eyebrows raise, sitting back in your seat as you cross your arms. “You’re a little player.”

Gojo meets your challenging eyes, pointing at you. “I didn’t say that. I meant that I focused on more pressing matters than finding my match.”

“Really?” you ask, finding him intriguing. As well as the fact that you could’ve delayed this all if you had known there was a way to. “What’d you do before—” you gesture around you “— all of this?”

“Prioritized college,” he shrugs. “Not that I had much of a choice. It was that or get disowned by my father.”

“So it was your father’s doing that you haven’t started matching yet?” 

“No,” Gojo smirks. “You weren’t necessarily wrong when you said I was a player.” He throws you a wink that you’re ashamed to admit that it made your heart flutter. 

For the rest of the night, the two of you were engrossed in each other’s conversations. You showed him the ropes of the dating app and how it functions when going on dates. Though, you were hoping by the rest of the night, neither of you no longer needed it. He told you stories of his childhood— the positive ones— and telling you what life was like without having to worry about your next date. Not only that, but the two of you seemed to mesh well.

When the time allotted for the two of you had ended, the waitress leading you through the door, a taxi waited for the both of you. “We’re supposed to spend the night together,” you tell him, motioning him to the car. “That’s how the app furthers its data.”

“Oh?” Gojo quirks an eyebrow. He has friends who had found their match early, but he was never interested in knowing the process. Right now, he felt like a toddler learning his alphabet all over again as he stopped in his tracks, watching how you walked so seamlessly over to the car, waiting for the door to fully open. You were a gorgeous thing, the way the white dress hugged onto you as your heels shone in the moonlight. He concluded there that he wouldn’t mind spending a night with you.

The moment the two of you stopped at your new destination, the designated place after all first dates, you punched in the code that you read off the phone before the door swung open and lights started flickering on. It was a cozy cabin that was accommodated to all current technology, but still gave the feels and comfort that it had as portrayed in old television shows from back in 2024. Climbing the short three steps, you turned to watch Gojo following you as he took in the small abode. 

It was spacious, but in the same word, congested. It was all one room, fitting in the living room, kitchen, and bedroom. Only a secluded room for the bathroom. It differed a lot from what he was used to. “This is where we’re supposed to spend the night?”

“Yeah,” you nod. “It took some time getting used to, but we don’t have to do anything. We can just… go to sleep, and wait for the next day.”

“Okay,” he breathes. He followed your words, letting you guide him and show him around. He didn’t have much knowledge on this. His parents only ever spoke good things about the process, but never the finer details of things. However, he remembered them mentioning the process is usually quick. It only took three dates for his parents to find out they were each other’s hundred-percent. However, the way you run around, memorizing everything lets him know that this isn’t even your third rodeo. 

“How many dates have you been on?” That question has you stiffen up, turning your head as you reach for a glass from the cabinet. Your eyes flicker away as you set it down on the marble countertop. 

“Oh, um…” You hum. “This would be my… twenty-ninth, I believe.”

What? “Oh…” 

“Don’t worry,” you try to lighten up the mood. “I’m pretty sure you won’t have bad luck like me. Maybe you’ll find your hundred-percent on the next date.”

You sound so sure that this one will fail. It makes him feel sympathetic towards you, how you’ve grown so accustomed to the failed matches. He inches near you, leaning against the countertop as he grabs your glass. He slides it from one hand to the next as his eyebrows wiggle and a smirk plasters on his lips. “How are so you sure that you aren’t mine?”

You don’t like how he’s gotten you all so flustered. He has a point. Maybe you don’t have to do anymore chasing, spending your afternoons and nights getting ready for a date instead of lounging at home. There’s a possibility that it could be him. However, there’s been guys like him before. Guys that you thought were decent, but didn’t make the cut. You didn’t want to get your hopes up. You didn’t want him getting your hopes up only to feel like a fool.

You don’t answer him, simply going to the fridge and pulling out an unopened bottle of apple juice. You gesture towards the bedroom area, taking the glass from his hold. You ignore the feeling of electricity that runs through your fingertips when your skin touches his. “In the left dresser, there are men’s clothes. You can use the bathroom to get changed while I use the bedroom.”

His shoulders slump, but he nods, body moving involuntarily as his posture straightens and does as he’s told. When he leaves the bathroom, he’s caught you at the wrong time. Fortunately, your back turned to him as you pull on the oversized t-shirt over the night shorts before spinning around. 

The bare skin of your back seemed to glisten under the lighting before it’s hidden away before you’re reaching for the bed sheets and feeling his presence. “Oh, hey!”

The air’s lighter as you pat the spot next to you, the tension from before dissipating as you get under the covers. Over your head, there’s a bonnet that you look adorable in as you find yourself getting comfortable. “Don’t get shy. I don’t bite.”

Gojo smirks. “I’m not too sure of that.”

Underneath the covers, the two of you spend majority of the night talking amongst yourself, speaking into the darkness as the moon wisks itself away and the stars seemingly saying goodbye. Nonetheless, the two of you enjoy each other’s company and laughter before eventually falling asleep. It’s six in the morning when both of your phones chime. To you, it’s the familiar notification of the app announcing that the data has been completed. Might as wel get this over and done with. 

You didn’t realize that Gojo had reached for his phone before you, long having opened up the app as it’s loading. A slew of pearls going in a circle before the numbers pop up on screen. “Oh.”

Through the sound of devastation, you go to look at your phone as well. And while you weren’t trying to get your hopes up when you read that ten-percent. Yeah… Oh. 

500TH INSTANCE

Gojo adjusts his cufflinks, pulling at the fabric of his shirt as the sleeves rise just below hiss elbows. The baby blue shirt becomes more crinkled as he glances at his phone— Utahime Iori is on her way. He’s fidgetting on anything he can find, his stomach starting to growl the longer he waits. He really shouldn’t have arrived early, but listening to the app, he wanted to make a good first impression. 

Are you nervous? The male voice of the dating app assistant sounds in his earbud. Absentmindedly, he shakes his head, grumbling while he’s at it. In a low voice, he responds, “No, moreso annoyed. This is my fifth date.”

I’m sure this one will be just fine, the chirpy male voice responds. I have good faith in this one.

“How are you so sure?” Gojo sneers. “You’ve said this three times before already.”

I’m just giving you positive words to cheer you up, the bot voices. If you feel like my vocal services are inadequate, please feel free to turn it off in the settings. 

Gojo does that, following the bot assistant’s instructions as he goes to the menu. Clicking on the blue slider, he chucks his phone to the corner of the table before a soft, feminine voice calls for his attention. “Gojo Satoru, right?” 

Immediately, Gojo comes to stand, holding out his hand for her to shake. She takes it, appreciating the kind gesture. He takes in the woman— jet black hair and fair skin. She’s pretty, chestnut-colored eyes that seem sweet and friendly with her hair styled down, a white bow in the back, clipping some back. The most noteable thing, however, is the large gash that decorates her face. A few shades darker that her skin, Gojo watches as the light in her eyes falter as she grows self-conscious. Her soft voice alerting him, “Hey, it’s rude to stare.”

“Sorry,” he smiles sheepishly. “It’s Utahime Iori, correct?”

“Yeah,” she nods, with the faint of roll of her eyes. “Just like it says on my profile.”

“Well,” Gojo sighs. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Utahime only hums in acknowledgement before clicking the button at the center of the table, signaling that the two of them are ready to be served. Without having to order, two plates are brought out for Gojo and Utahime. And just like the last date he was on, he’s been given the same dish. A shrimp alfredo with green beans on the side, Utahime a filet mignon. Her plate looking more appetizing than his as he picks up his fork. Usually, he’d start off each date with compliments, his flirtatious personality coming off so easily on his tongue, but he finds himself tongue-tied. So, instead, he tries starting up normal conversation. “So, what do you do for work?”

Utahime darts a look in Gojo’s direction, scrutinizing him. She grimaces at the app’s choice of date for tonight. He’s really not my type. “Did you not read my profile at all or something? I’m a teacher.”

Gojo’s shoulders droop as he comes to realize that it’s going to be a long night. 

When the two of them are brought back to a condominium, one that Gojo’s starting to familiarize himself with, he watches as Utahime kicks off her shoes. “Where’s the bathroom? I need to shower.” 

“Second door on your right,” he voices absentmindedly. Again, she says nothing, only humming in acknowledgement before trudging her way down the hall. Gojo pulls out his phone, opening the app as it still reads ‘Collecting Data…’ He lets out a sigh. Why couldn’t she be like my second date? He received the results within twenty minutes of dinner, glad that the results rung out a thirty-five percent. And he was immediately grateful for it, the woman obnoxious the entire time she was there. Why couldn’t I also get lucky with this one? 

Gojo finds himself perched at the dining table as the shower runs. He doesn’t bother to get changed, slouching down in the chair as he settles in his misery and into his mind. He thinks back to his first date. The girl he saw hurrying on in only to trip and land in a muddy puddle. You ruined your dress, a black and backless dress that flowed nicely at the skirt. When the two of you were made aware that you were each other’s date, you had given him the go ahead to laugh at you. You followed not too long after, cracking each other up while you sat in the cold establishment dirtied by the rain water. You were each other’s first dates and unfortunately, not either of your last. 

When Utahime hopped out of the shower, she came out to the dining area in only just her towel. With a smaller one wrapped around her head, she let that one fall down on the bench as she approached Gojo. Before he could fully register her planned turn of events, she dropped the towel that draped around her body and climbed on his lap. Excess water dripped onto the baby blue shirt as his entire body stiffened, eyes widening. “What’re you—”

“Don’t say anything,” she pressed a finger to his lips. “By the end of the night, we’ll get our results and we won’t have to see each other again after this.”

It’s her certainty that lures Gojo in. After this night, we won’t have to see each other again. And he liked the sounds of that. 

Skin slapping against skin, the pungent smell of sex infiltrating the air ducts. The sweet sounds of each other echoing throughout the room as Utahime holds onto Gojo’s shoulders, his hands holding at her hips as he controls her movement. She’s the sweetest like this. When she’s not complaining or making a jab at him for “not” reading her dating profile. Just pure sex without any romantic ties to it, no feelings that bound each other down. 

He feels his stomach tighten, the muscles coming together as his grip becomes stronger. “Shit, ‘m g’nna…”

“Hold on,” Utahime cries. “Hold on!” 

When Gojo cums, Utahime makes sure that it’s not in, watching how his cock leaks his seed onto her stomach as she fingers herself to her release. Her moans are sweet and sultry, her cunt pulsating before creamy white follows in suit. And when both fall out of euphoria, she’s the one to speak first. “C’mon. Let’s strip the beds before going to bed.”

When the phone chimes at four in the morning, Gojo’s expecting to taste the sweet relief of heading on home, watching how the bubbles swirl in a circle as the app pulls up the database. He rubs out the sleep from his eyes, his sight a little blurry before the number loads up on screen. Digital confetti blinding him and bringing him into a slot of confusion. Huh? It’s never done this before. 

His heart drops when he registers what the number says one the screen— One hundred percent. 

1,000TH INSTANCE

Geto is a decent guy, you conclude. A very sweet man. However, there’s just something that he lacks. You couldn’t put your finger on just what he was missing though. Long brown hair combed back in a small bun, one lock of hair falling out of place and in front of his face. Chocolate brown eyes that look at you, seemingly assuring you that everything is and will be okay. His voice is smooth, like the sweet blue agave that you pour into your tea. 

He carries and each conversation smoothly, listening to you intently as he has his hands propped up, leaning his head against it as hums. He nods his head at everything you say, giving you his undivided attention as he had barely touched his food while you half. You shouldn’t be wishing for this night to end because ideally, this is the partner you wanted. He was the man you so desired and wished for. But those sentences are all in the past tense, and you want to focus on the now.

You have a medium well steak that’s nearly finished. The sides, mashed potatoes and chopped vegetables. Your drink, a Diet Coke, as recommended by the app. Geto a Cesar salad with vidalia onion dressing drenching it. As you continue to talk, the more you get more hungry as you drone on and on about more stuff. It’s in the midst of your never-ending rambling that you become self-conscious, becoming flustered as you look over at Geto sheepishly. “Sorry, am I talking too much? I’ve been told I do.”

“No,” he completely dismisses your worries. “I like that you’re so open with me. I’d listen to you all the time if I could— If I possibly can.”

And that should be flattering. A man willing to listen to his partner at any time of the day if possible, but you still feel uneasy. “No, you know what. What about you? You told me that you grew up on a farm. Your accent doesn’t match your upbringing. Is there a story to that?”

He nods, accepting the change in discussion as he relaxes his shoulders. With a deep breath, he stares off into space for a moment. “There is, uh, a story to that actually.”

You’re sure that the story would have been fascinating if you were truly and genuinely missing. Instead, your eye flicker to outside of the window as you swear you see a familiar face. In a red button up and charcoal gray slacks, you watch as Gojo climbs the short steps up the pavement as the gentleman at the door bows in respect and holds the door open. Geto drones on and on about his childhood as your eyes follow the white-haired man. His head of hair styled back like he had done so with you. Dark circular frames that fit his face, he checks into Pimento’s with his phone before turning in your direction. 

Eyes meeting yours, he stops in his tracks as he looks over at you. Neither of you say anything for a while, Gojo calling for attention as onlookers and passers-by become curious as to why the gentleman is so bewildered. Geto’s soothing voice pulls you out of your trance, looking behind him to see just who you’re having a staring contest with. “Do you know him?”

“Huh?” You lose. “What— I’m sorry. I didn’t hear what you said?”

“The guy,” he gestures to Gojo. “Do you know him?”

“Oh,” your face heats up in embarrassment. “We, uh—” There was no ‘we.’ You barely knew Gojo, the two of you only sharing one date together before the app revealed the dreadful news that the two of you weren’t each other’s hundred-percent. After such heightened conversations and slews of laughter, the two of you just… clicked. However, according to the app’s data base, that wasn’t enough. Thirty-percent, it algorithm had collected that that’s what both of you were, claiming that there were too many differences and that in the long run while the two of you got along now, the future would turn out nasty. The two of you were devastated, but neither of you voiced that. “— We went on a date. That’s all. I just… I just usually never see them again right after, you know?”

“Oh,” Geto nods in understanding. “No, I get that. I’ve yet to see any of my dates again, so that is a little weird.”

“If you don’t mind me asking,” you lean against the table in curiosity. “How many dates have you been on so far?”

“This would be my fifty-sixth,” Geto answers truthfully, holding no shame to it. Your eyes widen, mouth shaped into an ‘O’ in surprise. Geto chuckles, used to that reaction. “Don’t make fun of me too hard now.”

“I—I’m not!” you hold up your hands in defense. “I’m just—Does your app need some updating or something because how have you not found your hundred-percent yet?”

Geto shrugs. “I don’t know. I’ve concluded it to bad luck, but I’m still hopeful.”

“Hopefully, you find the one soon,” you try to assure him.

“Hopefully, you are the one,” he smiles. 

Gojo watches from afar, you with your date. You’re smiling. You seem happy. Good, he thinks. You deserve happiness. Though, he believes deep down that it should be with him. Gojo lets out a deep sigh when he reads a notification on his phone. Utahime Iori is one minute away. 

You decided you needed a long shower the moment the two of you arrive at the hotel, scanning yourselves in before a keycard is uploaded to your screen. Geto takes the lead in bringing you up to your room, letting you in first as you reach for the light switch. It’s a beautiful room, you have to admit. Cream-colored walls with brown accents. Picture frames hang on the wall, making the area feel more homely. As expected, there’s only one bed. 

“If you want to take a shower first,” Geto says. “Go ahead. I want to take a second to relax.”

“Okay,” you chirp. That’s no problem with me. You end up taking an hour long shower, so absorbed in your mind as dread fills it. You just want this night to be over with. You feel so guilty because Geto seems like a nice guy, but you don’t feel a spark to assure yourself that this will be an everlasting connection. By the time you’re twisting the pipe, your fingertips are pruned up and dehydrated. You reach for the towel that hangs on the rack, stepping out. 

You curse to yourself in realization that you didn’t get a change of clothes when you’re drying off your face, taken aback when you see just what you need waiting on the bathroom sink. Wait, your eyebrows furrow. These weren’t here before—

Your phone chimes the familiar melody for the results. The loading screen pops up and disappears rather quickly than what you’re used to. One hundred percent. 

5,000TH INSTANCE

Perfection can never be achieved. You remember these words from your husband when you first met. You mentioned your love for painting, pulling out your phone to show him your works. Innocent recreations of what’s already been done and a few original pieces of your own. It was an off-handed comment that you made that sparked him to say that. “Oh, it’s not perfect or anything. I just do this for fun.”

“Perfection can never be achieved,” he told you, pushing back the dark strand of hair behind his ear, brown eyes that resemble a fox as they reeled you in with such charm. “Only something that we can aspire for.”

He paused before adding, “But, I’d say you’re damn near close to perfection.”

His smooth-talking immediately locked you into him, accepting the score of one hundred-percent the moment your phone chimed that familiar ring, waiting a few seconds before it popped up on the screen. You believed what he told you after that, how he was happy that you were his and that he only sought to take care of you. His hands wrapped around as the sheets fell from around him, his strong hands pulling in your bare torso and kissing you alongside your neck. 

The soft hum of your voice sounds the bedroom as you lean into his touch, naively falling for his lies. Eyes shutting as his hands raised to flick at your pert nipple, you melted into his touch as he whispered to you a broken promise. “I promise to love you with all my power.”

Maybe if he were truthful, your mind wouldn’t drift back to that one person who always lingered on your mind. 

Around the dining room table, you feel like you’re running short of breath. Gasping for air, tears stream down your eyes as you’re slamming your hand down on the table, three loud bangs that echo through the night. Both of your phones lie far inside the bedroom, promising each other not to look at it until the very next morning. It’s three in the morning now, exhausting pooling inside of each other’s eyes, but still— something is holding the two of you back from going into that bed. 

Your loud laughter fills the dining area, snorting every so often as you hold your stomach, paining starting to stab you. You keel over, holding your weight with one arm as Gojo watches. Circular frames set down on the table as his laughter slowly dies out, cheeks tinted in red as his chest heaves up and down. His eyes are solely on you, something you don’t realize until you’ve finally calmed down. A long-winded sigh leaving your mouth before your eyes meet his sapphire-like pupils. He’s giving you this… look. You don’t know what to call it. No one’s ever looked at you this way. 

Instinctively, you examine yourself, giving yourself a quick skimming before you’re asking, “What? Is something on me?” 

“No, no,” he shakes his head. “There’s nothing wrong with you. Never was.”

Easily growing flustered, you avert your gaze away from his piercing one. From under the table, you kick at his shin gently. “Stop it.”

“What?” he feigns innocence. “You asked, I answered.”

Such short-lived happiness. Now you feel a hollowness in your heart as Geto’s broken his thousands of promises, making you dream for a universe that you’ll never have. Did you fall for it all because it reminded you of the man that you really wanted?

5,001ST INSTANCE

“Gojo,” Utahime grumbles out. “I’m going out. Don’t wait for me.”

When have I ever? He wanted to voice out, but instead, he responded with silence. And she doesn’t say anything about it, walking through the door with a loud shut that sends vibrations to the trinkets and decor to the neighboring dressers and picture frames. Picture frames that hold nothing of any true value, all pictures that Utahime has hung up of nature and wildlife. Something to spruce up this… empty and desolate home. He doesn’t know where she goes, such a frequent occurrence that he no longer questions it in his mind. 

Perched up on the couch, his blue eyes pinned straight to the television as he clicks through the channels. His eyes are starting to burn and exhaustion is laced in his body, but he doesn’t care. No work tomorrow. Nothing to do. No Utahime in the house. All she does is fill up the empty space and even when she’s hear, it feels emptier than it already is. Maybe he’s being harsh, but it’s his truth. 

His unhappiness ruminates inside of his mind, festering as he clicks from channel to channel, still not finding anything interesting to watch. It comes to a point where the screen is dark, clicking the power button, and finding more entertainment in the darkness before he’s scrolling through his phone. Going through socials as he sees the smiling faces of his loved ones with their hundred-percents. He hates how happy they seem, even if they’re just conjured falsities. Why hasn't he felt like he hasn’t had one good moment with Utahime?

Through the lifeless scrolling and rediscoverings of certain apps, he finds the dating app. Something he hadn’t used since learning about Utahime being his hundred-percent, but the app is still there and his account is still there. You can no longer match with anyone reads underneath his name, but he goes past it, clicking on his match history. It was a short list of names, three people at most. Utahime Iori, Shoko Ieiri, a few other women and… you. 

Something batters against his chest at the remembrance of you. A student in her residency, so close to tasting victory. You spoke with so much passion, life still inside your eyes as you spoke to him. Cheeks that rose that they looked like they hurt at some point. “How many men have you made fall in love with you?”

He asked that simple question and you giggled, shaking your head. You had such a brightness that it was blinding. A vermillion dress that was so striking that you called all the attention to yourself, a beautiful flower that didn’t belong in between the rose bush, its thorns and thickets too deadly for something as precious as you. 

“I should be asking you that question,” you redirect the question to him. “What’s a fine man like yourself doing without his hundred-percent yet? The algorithms are doing a shitty job if you still haven’t found the one yet.”

He was so confident when he said, “I think they were leading me straight to you.”

He feels like a fool now. Holding so much faith for a woman that wasn’t his by the end of the night. He got his hopes up, and in response, got his heart torn into shreds by the end of the night. He kissed you that night, his second to last date. He’s never done that with any other woman before that. However, you managed to make yourself the exception. How did you do that? Weasel your way into his heart so easily?

He wonders if you’re as miserable as him right now. And while some sadistic part of him hopes so, his dwindling love hopes not. He hopes that your hundred percent gives you someone that you deserve and love— even though it’s not him. 

10,0001ST INSTANCE 

When was the last time you enjoyed being at a nice house party like this? Sure, it’s not as wild as your college days, but it doesn’t need to be. The EDM that hums through the heavyweight speakers vibrates through your bones as you hold a red solo cup in your right hand. The lights are dim as neon streams of light flash across the ceiling. Chatter intermingles with the music, everyone’s eyes bright as they dance along. Pushing through the large crowd comes Shoko, she’s tugging her hundred-percent along with her, eyes bright when she spots you hidden away. 

Calling out your name, she beams in excitement. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you everywhere.”

“Well,” you chuckle. “You haven’t been looking hard enough.”

You stand tall, meeting Shoko in the middle before your eyes fall adrift to her partner. A pretty woman with fair skin and chestnut-colored eyes. Jet black hair that falls past her shoulders and bangs that hide her forehead. The most striking feature about her, however, is the large gash across her face. However, it doesn’t take away from her beauty, only seeming to enhance it as it calls for a story waiting to be told. She holds a shy smile on her face, averting eye contact before she voices out a “hello.”

“Hi,” you respond, holding out your hand and giving her your name. 

“I’m Utahime—” She could barely introduce herself before Shoko’s smiling all giddily, “Isn’t she stunning?”

Utahime’s face heats up, a shy smile on her face before nudging Shoko, and whispering, “Stop it…”

You enjoy this part about matches. You enjoy watching people get their hundred-percents and finding themselves happy. Seeing how they’re ecstatic and overjoyed to find someone else they mesh well with. But, why couldn’t you have that? Why are you still searching for that through yours? Where was that immediate connection that you’re longing for? As much as you love seeing other people’s happiness, it becomes overbearing at some point. You manage to sneak yourself away from the lovey-dovey scene, squeezing past the myriad group of people and finding homage at the food table, picking up a paper plate and sharing yourself a small serving of fruits. You sneak a few pieces of cantaloupe into your mouth before sharing out more on the plate before a voice rings inside your ears. “Make sure to leave some for the rest of us.”

You nearly choke on a piece when you whirl around, a strangled ‘hm?’ leaving you before spitting it out on your plate. Your eyes widen at the piercing blue eyes and the inhumanly white-head of hair that you haven’t seen in months. 

“Oh, my gosh!” you gasp. “Gojo!”

The two of you hug as if you’ve both been life-long friends. It feels that way, remembering the first and only date the two of you have been on. That long night of chatter as the two of you spent it in each other’s comfort. Both of you equally poured your hearts out to each other like no one else was watching. Those within that restaurant were so sure of it, the two of you would be hundred-percents. Only for the staff to share the same disappointment you had when you returned in a week’s time waiting on someone else.

There was a connection that you had with Gojo that even a blind man could see, even now with the two of you hugging each other. Each of your grips were strong, scared to let go of one another as if the moment you did, one of you would be gone once more. You couldn’t help but inhale his scent, an earthy fragrance of his cologne that made you want to nuzzle yourself further in his chest. He couldn’t help but to bury his face in your hair, smelling a scent of citrus from your hair products. Subconsciously, his grip tightened on you before both of you finally pulled away. 

You looked up into his eyes, finding yourself easily lost in them as you’re held speechless. A snort leaves you, still baffled that he’s here. “You know Shoko and Utahime?”

“Utahime, yeah,” Gojo nods. “She was an old classmate of mine. Surprised she invited me, to be honest. She hated my guts.”

“Who could hate you?” you jest, but deep down, you’re asking yourself that question. How could anyone possibly hate him? He scratches the nape of his neck, chuckling as he leans down to your height, getting awfully close. “You’d be surprised.”

He sends a chill down your spine, your smile dropping as your eyes flicker from his eyes and down to his lips. He does the same, having the strong urge to kiss you then and there. “Want to take a step outside with me? It’s— It’s, uh, getting a bit claustrophobic in here.”

You nod without hesitation. “Yeah.”

You take his hands, bigger than yours, they lead the way out. The two of you find latibule on a rusty bench out front, a few blocks down from Shoko’s place. The sky is getting darker and the air is getting chillier. You start to shiver when Gojo’s pulling off his sweater. “Here.”

“No.” You start shaking your head. “I’m fine.”

However, Gojo’s already draping it over your shoulder, not taking your ‘no’ for an answer. Instead, he starts the conversation up with a question he’s been meaning to ask the moment he saw you at the food table. “Have you found your hundred-percent?”

“Nope,” you sigh, averting your gaze in shame. “You?”

“Nope,” he repeats. There’s a long silence the two of you share before his eyes lie on you. “Do you think it’s worth trying anymore?”

“No,” your eyes flicker around before braving it. A few inches away becomes a centimeter, lips ghosting each other’s. “Not when the only person I’ve been wanting is you.”

note. thank you so much for reading this fic. gojo is my king for angst. please let me know your thoughts in the comments below or in your reblog. it is very much appreciated. mwah!

[healmyhrt]

⌗ a night alone, c. sturniolo

chris x fem!reader

summary: you and chris have the house to yourselves and decide to do something other than… inappropriate things, and fail. (lmao)

disclaimers!: established relationship, oral sex (male receiving), mild smut, kissing, cursing, use of y/n,

a/n: yall. its short. all my shit is short unfortunately, I APOLOGIZE. I WILL MAKE LONGER FICS IN THE FUTURE. until then, HERES A CHRIS FIC FOR MY CHRIS GIRLS 😜 | also didn’t proofread <3

the boys were out for the night, so it was just chris and i. we often have nights to ourselves, but we usually choose to do more… inappropriate things. that’s why i wanted to have a simple date night tonight.

“okay come up!” i yell down toward his bedroom. chris jogs up the steps, and his eyes widen at the kitchen table.

“what’s this?” he smiles.

spread across the wooden table were all the ingredients to bake cookies, and a few candles. he looks over to me, and smirks. “oh, you shouldn’t have.” he says in a dramatic tone, walking toward me.

he puts his arms around my waist, and i place my hands around his neck, slightly looking up at him. “i thought it’d be a nice change for our night alone.” i grin back.

chris glances back over at the table, and then back at me with the sweetest smile ever. “and it is.”

i kiss him, impatiently, and he tilts my jaw upward with his index finger. a repetitive sound interrupts us, and i look over at my phone on the table. “sorry.” i sigh.

“i set a timer for the butter to thaw.” i chuckle, holding up the now soft, stick of butter. chris laughs and then stops abruptly, looking at all the ingredients again.

“wait,” he starts, “does this mean we’re not fucking?”

oh my god.

“chris—” he continues walking around the table until he gets to the assortment of cookies. “wait, babe.”

i scoff. “yeah?” he picks up the cookies, and turns it so i can read the title. “these are bake only, they’re pre-made. we dont need all these ingredients.” he laughs.

i snatch the cookies from his hands, and read the title again. “shut the fuck up.” i mumble. chris takes the cookies from my hands, and places them on the table.

“so, i guess we can fuck.” he smirks.

“chris, noooo. we need to do something different.” i gesture to the cookies he just put down. he places his hands on my waist, lifting me up like it’s nothing.

i automatically wrap my legs around his waist, and he places both hands on my hips, holding me up.

“please, baby.”

i gently bite my bottom lip. that’ll do it for me.

“fine. but only for a little.” chris smiles instantly, and smashes his lips against mine. the kiss is hungry, like he couldn’t get enough of me.

he sits me on the counter, and slowly lifts up my nightgown. i pull it over my head, and do the same to his shirt, then he throws it on the floor.

“pants.” i say through a kiss.

chris’s hands leave my hips, and begin shimmying his pants down. i hop off of the counter, and adjust him so he’s leaning against it. “what’re you—” i interrupt him by putting my hand over his mouth.

he nods, and i move my hand, using it to pull down his boxers. chris’s breathing becomes rapid, and i smile to myself.

i hold his shaft in my hands, and spit over his tip. chris watches while it slowly trickles down from my lips and onto him.

he trembles as it slides down his shaft, and i hold eye contact with him while i move my hand up and down, spreading it.

i had grown bored of touching him with my hands, so i move my mouth to his cock, and wrap my lips around his tip. i look up asking for his consent, and chris gives me a quick nod.

i took more and more of him, stopping halfway because i couldn't swallow any more. i started bobbing my head on his cock, collecting the precum.

“ah, ah…” chris moaned every time i put more of him into my mouth, and felt his tip hit the back of my throat.

“please, ma…” he spoke through whimpers, and grabbed a handful of my hair. chris thrusts into my mouth, bruising my throat.

i tap his thigh, and he comes to an abrupt stop.

i pull myself off of him, and his cock leaves mymouth with a pop sound. “too rough?” i wipe my mouth, and stand up, kissing him.

“it’s okay. i like it when you’re like that.” i smirk.

chris pulls up his boxers and his pajama pants together, and looks around for his shirt. i slide my nightgown back up my legs, and straighten the straps on my shoulders.

“so, we should probably make these cookies now, huh?”

[korpuskat]

Auto-Trigger

[Ao3 Mirror] Pairing: Ramattra/Reader (Gender Neutral) Rating: Explicit WC: 996 Warnings: Prompt is "Stalking", using cameras to spy.

On the screen, you move through your quarters. Gathering your data pad before settling onto your bed, you have no idea you’re being watched.

You should, Ramattra reasons. He did not ask for a Talon liaison to observe his progress, to live in his omnium while production continued. You’re here to observe him, it’s only fair he observes you in turn. He doesn’t trust Talon, no matter how much funding they’re funneling into his cause- your observations are just as useful to your superiors as guarantees of progress as they are intel for how to destroy him.

So, he watches. Usually he’s too busy to have only the feed from your room pulled up on his screens, but as it would happen, for once every production line is running smoothly. So it leaves him in his own quarters- not that he uses them much, so little time for rest- with the feed of you.

He’ll close it soon; whatever report you’re typing will be filtered through his firewalls, he’ll read it later. But then- you sigh and stop typing. A tap and it’s sent, a notification appearing in his own HUD. And on the screen you stretch, arching your back outwards, arms extending above your head, twisting to release the muscles there. One hand comes down to cover a silent yawn.

Out of curiosity Ramattra checks his logs; you’ve appeared in key areas and spoken with him several times in the last twenty hours. Yes, it would make sense you’d be fatigued. Living underground with no source of natural light, your circadian rhythms must be altered.

In truth it wouldn’t be so hard to find a way to adapt that aspect of his omnium for you. A timer on the overhead lights, dimming them every twelve hours or so, would be trivial. He won’t, however. He doesn’t need you here, does not need your reports to be accurate or legible. Even if you have… held his attention.

As much as he dislikes the reasons for your presence… it has been some time since he’s been forced to work so closely with someone else, much less a human. Your conversations, when not Talon-related, have been… almost enjoyable. A pleasant distraction from the all-consuming work before him.

It does not mean he trusts you, however.

Hence, he watches as you shift on the bed, sliding down a little further. He does not pay it too much attention, until you shift the datapad to your other hand- and that is odd, isn’t it? Humans avoid their non-dominant hand- while the other…

Ramattra grabs the screen and pulls it closer, pinging the feed to zoom. Your other hand slides over your chest, pausing here and there to caress yourself over your uniform. Is this…? Ramattra’s circuits race, chase any answer but the obvious. Fortunately you provide an even clearer explanation: the hand that roams your chest slips under the cloth of your pants.

Your mouth drops open, eyes fluttering shut, and very quickly Ramatta has realized he’s made a terrible mistake. His arousal subroutine auto-triggers, and Ramattra curses himself to ever leaving it engaged, curses more that it’s you that’s brought it out of its dormancy. A warmth floods his sensors, makes his out plating feel like they’re itching and Ramattra wrestles with it, even as it supplies fairly sound logic: it’ll feel nice, he was going to rest anyway, you’ll never know.

He’s about to kill switch it- when the mic on the camera automatically toggles on, a volume threshold is exceeded and a soft, airy moan rumbles from his display’s speakers.

Behind the last section of his paneling, his cock throbs. Ramattra’s fingers ache to take it in hand, but he resists. You, he fights the haze that clouds his thinking, you might still receive a call about that report. Yes, he can handle himself later, but now… he should be watching-

Your hand moves beneath the cloth, exact movements obscured. With the other hand, you hold up the data pad for a minute more, then drop it on the bed beside you. What were you looking at? The fact he could find it- you’re connected to his network- does not escape him. But it’ll be disappointing, he’s sure, less entertaining than- than you shimmying out of your clothes and delving between your legs again and-

The mic toggles on again.

”Ramattra,”

He- he misheard you. He must've. But his audials replay your voice for him, begging, pleading for something- something from him. He’s burning up, vents popping in a futile attempt to calm his racing circuits.

He nearly rips one of the joints of his panels off. The antarctic air is freezing on his cock, but his moans just at the feeling of his own palm finally surrounding himself. Now- now that he can see you, he doesn’t bother with shame. Instantly he matches your rhythm, his hand keeping pace with yours. You- this is your fault, you should know better, should know he’d be watching you and, oh, when you twist like that you look so-

“Yes, yes,” You pant, just loud enough for the camera to hear it. What was he doing to you in your mind, what did you want him to do? Don’t you know he could’ve heard you, even if he wasn’t watching?

“Ra- Rama-ah,” You cry out, tensing and twitching and-

A quarter of his systems are offline before he even registers the overload has hit, He shudders, makes some distorted noise and surrenders to the wave of pleasure that follows.

He wakes some ten minutes later, if his chronometer is correct. The camera feed to your quarters is still displayed- and his optics fight to refocus into a viable image. It seems you’ve fared about the same, splayed out on your bed, blanket haphazardly drawn over half your body. And you’re fully asleep, if the soft snores are to be believed. At least he can finally get some rest.

[saber-monet]

Take Cold showers to ignore the 3d

If you're in the loass community and want to practice the concept of

" ignore the 3d and persist" taking cold showers is the way to go!

why?

when you commit to taking cold showers you condition your brain to think wanted thought and abandon the negative one .

You quickly learn thinking negative thoughts like:

" this is hard"

"I cant do this"

"why am i putting myself through this? i could just stop rn" etc

only make the experience worse.

You learn to consciously choose to think wanted thoughts like:

"This will be over soon, this wont last long"

"I feel warm and toasty rn"

"I've already completed this, it's already done " etc.

Basically affirming your desired state and tapping into it and staying there. ( you gain resilience to stay in your preferred state). And you actually feel that way in real time. It feels bearable. It feels fine taking a cold shower.

Because If you start saying the negative thoughts again, the experience becomes miserable and you feel terrible and weak and you will want to quit. You can quite literally feel yourself shifting states based on the words you're saying.

My experience:

I started with 30 second cold shower and the next day 1:00 minute, then 1:30 the next and worked my way up to 3:00 minute cold shower today.

What I do is set the timer and affirm(out loud): " I feel nice and toasty right now", "this 3 minutes went by so quickly", "that was so easy" (affirming as my future self ) and I basically do that till the timer goes off.

This exercise definitely teaches you how to tap into your desired future self, and hold your future self's thoughts.

It's gotten so good that I've started automatically affirming how well my showers are going to go before I even step into the bathroom.

Before I used to think, "oh my gosh this cold shower's gonna be so uncomfortable. I'm gonna hate it", etc.

Now, whenever I think of a cold shower, I automatically think, "oh nice and toasty that's gonna go by so quick". And it feels nice to think about. It doesn't feel forced at all. It's become ingrained as a positive experience on my conscience and it took less than a week to do 🙌🏾

[inkluvs]

・❥・ tea — send me a blurb request / headcannon (inspo here and here)

omg maybe “i made some cookies. would you like some” from the neighbors to lovers prompt list with eddie munson pleeaseee🤞😭

come on in, sweetheart

a/n: wooo i hope u like this i love neighbor eddie <3 <3

ivy's cafe // masterlist // taglist

The longer you stared at the timer the slower time seemed to become, the ticks of the small hand becoming fewer and farther between as you turned on the oven light to check on the state of your cookies. If things continued the way they are now it seemed like they would need an extra ten minutes, just to make sure they were fully baked and you wouldn’t be feeding your new neighbor raw dough. So you sat there, turning the oven lights back on whenever they switched off automatically, your eyelashes fluttering as you stared at the tray inside.

Had you done something wrong? You’d followed the recipe down to the last letter.

The oven alarm went off seconds later, startling you from your thoughts. Opening the oven door, you picked up the tray without a second thought.

shit

The pain shooting through your arm was blinding. You dropped the cookie tray onto the counter just as quickly as you’d picked it up. Running your hand under the tap, you touched the now-tender skin of your palm gingerly, wincing at the slight sting. 

It’s fine, you decided, taking out a bowl from your cabinet. It really wasn’t that serious of a burn. The way your skin prickled when it made contact with the glass directly contradicted that statement, but you chose to ignore it, instead placing the cookies into the bowl one by one. 

The chill of your door knob was a welcome one, soothing the sting for a split second as you stepped outside your house and into the summer heat. Your stomach churned as you started the 15-second journey to your neighbor's house, your shoes slightly dragging on the pavement.

You stopped in front of the door and for a second you hesitated, wondering whether it was really worth it to try and get to know your neighbor. But before you could turn around the door opened, revealing Eddie behind it. His hair was tied up, leaving the stark veins of his neck on display. You didn’t mean to stare, really, but you couldn’t help it, the clear contrast of the green veins against his skin catching your eye.

He interrupted the beginning of your thought process, “D’you want something?”

“I made these,” you breathed, flicking your eyes back to his own.

“Figured,” Your confidence was slowly slipping with each monotone response he offered you.

“And I was wondering if you wanted any?” 

“They chocolate chip?”

You shook your head, “Plain chocolate, that an issue?”

The door swung open and he smiled, “Come on in, sweetheart.”

[waywardxrhea]

Chapter 5 - Black Butterflies and Deja Vu

What happens when you lie to the Devil? How long can one woman keep a lifetime of secrets from the Devil of Hell's Kitchen? The answer may surprise you...

installment list

pairing: Matt Murdock x enhanced!fem!OC

series content: coffee shop AU, fluff, humor, friends to lovers, pining, language, canon typical violence, angst, drinking, implied smut, medical emergencies, mental health disorders (PTSD, panic disorder).

"i lose my voice when i look at you, can't make a noise though i'm trying to tell you all the right words, waiting on the right words. just another lovesick afternoon, black butterflies and deja vu. hoping for the right words, waiting for the right words." - black butterflies and deja vu, the maine

word count: 5.3k

Flirting. That's the chapter. With some angst thrown in but sweet Matty is there for our girl.

a/n: so obviously this story is written third person limited in Crystal's POV most of the time so we don't know what Matt is thinking or sensing, so I try throughout this series to write Matt's reaction to Crystal in a way that isn't almost table topping (for lack of a better word we are using D&D terms now whoops) and having Crystal almost "know" that he can tell more of what's going on. in this chapter we get our first glance of Matt's senses really coming in handy when it comes to being in tune sympathizing with Crystal, I hope y'all enjoy and look forward to the future of Matt's reactions to her because they are so fun to write!

A couple more weeks passed at the shop with business going as usual. One morning Crystal was hanging up the last of the Valentine’s day decorations around the pastry case and singing quietly to the music playing over the speakers. When the bell above the door rang signaling the door opening, she automatically greeted the person with, “Good morning, welcome to Stardust, I’ll be right with you!” As she rounded the counter to get behind the register, she saw Matt Murdock and Foggy Nelson and said, “You chaps are earlier than usual, it’s nice to see you two!”

“Well we’ve got an early morning at the courthouse today,” Matt informed her with a shrug. 

“Awe, well, if you have time to wait, there’s about two minutes left on some strawberry mini tarts that are in the oven,” she said. 

“Are they shaped like hearts?” Foggy asked as he looked around at all of the decor hanging in the shop. He laughed as he added, “Just assuming because it is very pink in here.”

“Just comes with the holiday I guess,” she replied with a quiet laugh. “What can I get you two today?”

“Want your usual Fog? I can get it today, go find a table for us, yeah?” Matt asked his friend. 

“You got it, I’ll be at the third table on the right, buddy,” Foggy replied before relieving Matt of his briefcase and heading off to the table. 

Once he left, Matt turned his attention back to Crystal and said with a charming smile, “We’ll have our usuals and two of those tarts you mentioned.”

“Of course,” Crystal replied as she tapped away at the computer to get the order in. 

As she made change for the bill Matt gave her, she could hear the slight smirk in his voice as he told her, “You know, if you’re as beautiful as your singing voice is, that sign out on the sidewalk is wrong.”

Heat instantly ignited in her cheeks at the flirtatious comment and she was so grateful that he wasn’t able to see the flush on her cheeks and the shock on her face. Her hands began to tremble a bit as she handed him back his change, mumbling, “Oh, I, uh, I- You’re too kind, Matt…”

“I’m just telling it how it is,” Matt replied back, his warm touch lingering on hers for a few more seconds than usual before he felt around for the tip jar to place the change in. 

When he walked away, Crystal barely heard the timer for the tarts going off due to the roaring in her ears. She snapped out of her trance though and went to get them out of the oven just as Raeyes turned the corner coming from the office with her clipboard in hand. “You okay…?” she asked in concern, the panic was apparently clearly written all over Crystal’s face. 

“Yeah, just fine,” she replied faintly as she pulled on the oven mitts to get the pastries out. 

Even after Matt and Foggy left for the day, Crystal’s mind kept running through the scene in her head over and over again to the point where when got off she missed having her afternoon tea because of the preoccupation. When Raeyes pointed it out as they got back to the flat for the day was when she finally admitted what happened. 

“He said what?!” she shouted excitedly as they put their purses in their proper places near the door. 

“I guess Foggy read him the sign like he usually does and he told me, and I quote, ‘If you’re as beautiful as your singing voice is, that sign out on the sidewalk is wrong.’” Crystal told her, sitting down on the loveseat and throwing her head backward over the headrest exasperatedly. 

“And what did you say back?!” Raeyes asked as she joined her on the loveseat, practically bouncing with excitement. 

Crystal covered her face with her hands as she groaned in embarrassment, replying, “I said that was kind of him to say…”

“Crystal! The hottest lawyer in New York said one of the smoothest lines of all time and that’s what you said back?!”

“I didn’t know what to say! I haven’t exactly flirted with anyone in nearly four years!” Crystal retaliated, an unexpected laugh escaping her lips. 

Raeyes sat deep in thought for a few moments before saying, “Okay, well, all hope is not lost yet! This is good actually! This shows that he likes you! We can work with that!”

“Rae,” Crystal said wearily, unsure of how she wanted to navigate this developing situation. 

“Crystal! Please! Just give it a chance!” Raeyes pleaded.

“I want to, God I want to. There’s a part of me that is desperate for change but…” she trailed off for a few moments to gather her words. She took a breath before finishing with, “But there’s also a part of me that still loves Kit and it feels… almost wrong to have feelings for someone else…”

“Oh Crys…” Raeyes said quietly before leaning over to give her a brief hug. She sighed before saying, “I know part of you is always going to love him, that’s only natural. This isn’t like normal relationships where he hurt you and therefore you don’t love him anymore. He freakin’ died and that’s the worst way for something like what you had to end. But you can’t let that keep you from living your life. I know I didn’t know him, but from what you tell me about Kit, he would want you to be happy. Why deny yourself that?”

“The change is just scary is all…” Crystal admitted quietly. 

“Adulting is scary, but sometimes we just have to do things that scare us in order to know that we’re still alive. What’s life without a little risk?”

“You and your Potter references,” Crystal said, huffing out a quiet laugh as she wiped away a tear from her eye. 

“I’m full of ‘em!” Raeyes said as she got up and went to the cabinet to grab a couple glasses for water. As she filled them up, she told Crystal, “You don’t have to do it now, but just…think of ways you can do a little more than ‘that was nice’ next time Murdock flirts with you.”

“You got it,” Crystal replied, although she was still doing mental gymnastics to try and navigate the situation... 

The day of February 28th rolled around and Crystal, as she expected, was a mess. She was a mess because today was Kit’s birthday. His first one not here on Earth. She woke up that morning with a pit in her stomach and felt like a dark cloud was constantly hovering over her as she readied herself for work. As she walked through the door of the shop and greeted the other openers for the day though, she forced a smile onto her lips and tried to pretend she wasn’t breaking down inside. 

The cloud stuck around all day and a little voice in the back of her head kept nagging her to use the VPN she installed on her phone to check Kit’s social media page. Against her better judgment, she did when she sat down on one of the couches in the corner of the shop for her break. What she saw when she opened the page shook her to the core. It was a post from his mother that read:

Today we should be celebrating my son’s birthday with him, but instead we grieved at the grave where he shouldn’t be in the first place. As many of you know Kit was killed a few months ago and I will never forgive the person I believe to be responsible. You know who you are. He should be here with me eating his favorite meal but tonight my husband and I sit at the dining table alone while the food grows cold on our plates. Happy heavenly birthday son, until we meet again. 

A numbness filled Crystal’s body as she read the post and almost as if someone else was making her move, she felt herself get up off of the couch and head toward the restroom to be out of the public eye. She barely heard Karen compliment her on the lunch the shop served as she made her way there, offering back an off-handed acceptance of the comment before locking herself in the restroom.

Once she locked the door, Crystal turned her back to it and slid down to the floor, covering her mouth with her hands as a choked sob escaped her mouth. Before she could even try to ground herself, Crystal found herself in the midst of a panic attack, giving the only bit of concentration she had to keeping her sobs quiet as she cried. 

She cried because she knew that she was the reason his mother wasn’t able to celebrate with him today. She cried because of how much she missed him. But she panicked because of the implication of one line of the message: "you know who you are." To her panicking mind, this meant that it wasn’t made public that she had died at the hands of the O’Hares. That to London at large she was still alive and well, stuck at home with her father and brother presumably still grieving over the loss of her mother and boyfriend. That perhaps they knew she wasn’t actually dead. 

After a few minutes of just trying to slow down her breathing and heart rate before she went into a WPW episode, Crystal finally got herself out of the panic attack. She stood up on shaking legs and steadied herself on the sink before washing the tears from her cheeks and redoing the messy bun atop her head. 

She shook her head as she looked in the mirror once more, telling herself that her thoughts had to be wrong. There was no way her father knew she was still alive. If it wasn’t made public it was probably because it would implicate both the O’Hares and Porters in illegal activity which would be bad for both of their operations. Or maybe it was simply a lapse in judgment on Kit’s mother’s part… Whatever the reason for it, there was no way it was because they thought she was still alive… They just couldn’t.

When she finally emerged from the restroom well after her allotted break time, Crystal quickly got to work clearing off tables that needed it. When she neared the table where Karen, Matt, and Foggy sat, she flashed a quick smile before asking, “Anything else I can get you lot today?”

Karen gave her a soft smile before telling her, “We’re just about to head out, thank you though.”

“Everything was perfect today, as usual,” Matt complimented as they all began gathering their belongings. Karen and Foggy began to walk toward the door slightly ahead of Matt while he unfolded his cane at the table that Crystal began to clear off in their departure. As Matt reached for the handle of his briefcase, his fingers brushed across Crystal’s hand and he told her softly, “Take it easy and have a great rest of your shift, Crystal. Thank you again.”

The first genuine smile of the day made its way onto Crystal’s lips at his words and she couldn’t help the butterflies that erupted in her stomach in reaction. Before he could walk away, Crystal told him, “Thank you Matt. You just made my day loads better, you have no idea…”

He gave her a smile and small wave before beginning to navigate toward the door where his friends stood waiting for him. As Crystal finished out her shift, the thoughts of panic associated with Kit’s mother’s post started to fade into the background. Her mind instead flirted with the possibilities of what Matt’s actions could imply, and while guilt occasionally seeped into those thoughts, she kept what Raeyes told her in mind to try and feel better about the situation as a whole. 

One evening a few days later after an extremely long shift at Stardust, Crystal trudged into her flat with one thing on her mind: curling up in her bed and not getting up until mid-morning. She was so determined to get there that she missed the bright pink post-it note stuck to the outside of the door to her flat. She took two steps into the apartment before silently making her way out, cringing at her mistake of not seeing the post-it. 

Wishing to forget what she heard within the walls of her and Raeyes’s shared flat, she wandered into the first bar she came across, one with a sign out front saying, Josie’s. The bar was small and poorly lit with classic rock playing from the speakers and was filled with patrons from all walks of life. 

Sitting down at the far end of the bar, Crystal ordered a double shot of the house special before pulling out her phone to browse social media while she waited out her time away from the flat. She was lost in thought for a little while, sipping on her drink, when she heard a familiar voice asking, “Hey, isn’t that the barista from the coffee shop?” 

“She’s got a name you know,” Crystal heard a female voice reply before calling out for some beers from the bartender. 

Not wanting to intrude, Crystal pretended she didn’t hear the conversation while taking a drag from her glass. As she placed her near empty glass on the bar, she jumped a little when she realized that the ever-handsome Matt Murdock was standing nearby with a charming smile on his face. She couldn’t help the flutter her heart gave upon seeing that smile and his sleeves rolled up, showing off his surprisingly buff forearms. “Fancy seeing you here,” she told him once the shock wore off. 

“You know, I would say the same, but,” he said, his smile growing at the comment. Crystal bit the inside of her cheek, but stopped when Matt added, “You can laugh at that.”

And so she did, asking him with a laugh, “You think you’ve got a wicked sense of humor, don’t you?”

“Yes, yes I do,” he said, a light chuckle rumbling out of his chest. “Judging by the lack of any other comments, I’m assuming you’re here alone?” he asked curiously.

“Oh, uh, yeah, actually. I’m not really needed nor welcome in my flat right now,” she replied. 

“Problems with your roommate?” Matt asked. 

“I mean if you count an active dating life and getting shagged as a problem, then yes.”

A loud laugh escaped Matt’s lips at the statement and Crystal couldn’t help but laugh along. “You Brits and your slang for sex,” he said, this time with a quieter chuckle. There was a moment of silence before Matt offered, “Why don’t you come and hang out with me and the others? Help get your mind off of all…that.”

“Oh I wouldn’t want to intrude,” she said reluctantly. 

“I insist. If it helps I’ll even buy your next drink,” he told her before calling out to the bartender to get her another drink. 

“I appreciate that because I really don’t want to remember tonight,” she said before she drank the rest of her first cocktail down. Her eyes went wide upon realizing what she said and heat crept onto her cheeks as she instantly began stuttering out, “I didn’t mean- I meant- Not wanting to forget hanging out with you lot, I’m sure that part is going to be lovely, it’s just…”

“Walking in on your roommate having sex wasn’t on your agenda tonight?” Matt asked, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.

“Not exactly,” she replied before taking a sip from the new drink Josie sat in front of her. 

“You guys better watch out for her, those are doubles, Murdock,” the bartender warned. 

“Will do, Josie, thank you,” Matt replied. He turned back to where Crystal sat on the barstool and asked, “Do you mind leading me to where Fog and the others are?”

“I don’t mind at all,” she replied as she gingerly hopped off the chair and held out her arm for Matt to grab. When his large hand grabbed hold of her bicep, Crystal couldn’t help but feel heat rising to her cheeks again, but tried to blame it on the liquor starting to take effect. 

As they walked over, Matt began telling her, “So you know Karen and Foggy, but we’ve also got Marci here with us tonight. She and Foggy are dating.”

“Got it,” she said as they approached the table. 

She placed her drink on the table before helping Matt to his chair as Foggy said cheerfully, “Well if it isn’t our favorite baker and barista! Crystal, this is my girlfriend, Marci! Marci, this is the barista we’ve told you about!” 

“Pleasure to meet you,” Crystal said with a cordial smile. 

“You too! Foggy Bear never shuts up about your scones when you make them at the shop. If you end up being around more often you’ll have to share your recipe,” Marci told her. 

“So what brings you to Josie’s? I don’t think we’ve seen you around here before,” Karen said. 

Matt, seemingly unable to help the teasing tone in his voice, told her, “Her roommate is...how’d you say it? Shagging someone?”

Crystal laughed quietly before saying, “Yep, and I’ve still got about…” she checked the time on her phone before finishing with, “An hour and a half before I can go back to the flat.”

Foggy choked on his beer before asking, “Who has sex for that long?”

“Some people like foreplay, Foggy Bear,” Marci told him with a nudge of her elbow. 

Crystal laughed at the comment before telling them, “It’s just this rule she has in place for us living together. When the other has someone over like that, you put a post-it on the door with the time written on it. The other isn’t allowed back inside for two hours after the designated time. I made the mistake of being too exhausted from my shift at the shop to notice the note…”

“Are you saying you just got off of work?” Matt asked with concern in his voice. “Haven’t you been there since this morning?”

“Oh calm down counselor, I didn’t mind it,” she told him. “We had someone call in and when there’s only a handful of people on staff and no one else can come in, we do what we have to do. As I said, I don’t mind it, it’s not like I have much of a social life anyway. It’s…hard to meet people here if I’m honest,” she told him. 

“You’re telling me,” Karen said, raising her beer bottle to Crystal. “Luckily for me Matt and Foggy came into my life when they did. They ended up taking me under their wing when I was in some trouble.” Upon prompting from Crystal, Karen recounted the story of how the three of them met and how their friendship had flourished since then. She smiled at Crystal before telling her, “So if you’re looking for a group to take you under their wing, I’m sure we can be that for you.”

The sentiment had tears pooling in the backs of her eyes, and Crystal was about to respond when Marci asked, “So what brings you to Hell’s Kitchen anyway? How does one go from London to here of all places?”

“Hey, don’t drag Hell’s Kitchen like that,” Matt defended. “Some people actually like it here.”

“Fine, fine, but even you have to admit, London’s got to be loads better than around here, Matt!” Marci said with a playful roll of her eyes. She rested her chin on her hand as she turned back to Crystal and prompted, “So…?”

“Oh, I, uh… I just needed a change. Life back home wasn’t always the best for me, so I seized the opportunity to get out of there the first chance I got,” Crystal told her vaguely. 

“Well you know what they say, that America is the land of opportunity!” Foggy told her. 

The group discussed the differences between life in the UK versus the US before Karen slyly asked, “What about the difference between the men here and there?”

Crystal canted her head to the side, furrowing her eyebrows as she said, “I don’t follow.”

“Well you know what they say, English girls like sex,” Marci said with a wiggle of her eyebrows. She smirked before prompting, “So Miss London girl…?”

“I am certainly not drunk enough to be answering those questions right now,” Crystal replied with a laugh. She not so gracefully exited her chair and turned toward the bar, but not before adding, “And by the way I don’t have a comparison.”

Karen’s jaw dropped before she asked, “You’re telling me you’ve been in America for months and you haven’t been laid?”

“I plead the fifth! That’s how that saying goes right?” she asked before laughing as she headed toward the bar for another drink and something to snack on. 

While she waited at the bar with her drink, getting lost in her thoughts, a figure approached her, standing rather close. She looked over and saw a young man standing there with a smile on his face, saying, “I couldn’t help but overhear your beautiful accent earlier, where are you from?” 

“Oh, uh, London,” she replied, subtly stepping away. 

“Sweet, I bet it’s almost as beautiful there as you are,” he said with a wink. 

She cringed at the flirting, wishing it would stop as she replied awkwardly, “Oh...uh...thanks.”

He stepped closer, ignoring the growing space between them and placing his hand over hers on the bar, saying, “Why don’t you and me get out of here and-”

“Is everything all right, sweetheart?” came Matt’s voice from behind her. 

He leaned his cane up against the bar and snaked his hand around Crystal’s waist, running it down her side before resting it on her hip. At the touch, Crystal felt her heart speed up and a jolt of pleasure went south, causing her to shiver slightly under his hold. Matt’s hand subtly squeezed her hip, causing her to come back to the moment, telling him, “Everything’s fine, love, thank you. Just waiting on my order.” She removed her hand from the young man’s and added, “I was just about to tell this gentleman that I was here with someone already.”

The young man’s eyes went wide seeing Matt holding onto Crystal, so he stuttered out, “Sorry man, I didn’t realize, I’ll let her be. Have a good one.”

Once he was out of earshot and back with his friends across the room, Crystal let out a sigh of relief, telling Matt breathlessly, “Thanks for the save.”

“Any time,” he told her before letting his hold on her go seemingly reluctantly. “Foggy said you looked uncomfortable so I decided to step in. Karen and Marci are mad at me about it, but,” he said with a quiet chuckle. 

“They’re never going to let it go, huh?” Crystal asked as she took the basket of cheese sticks from Josie before guiding herself and Matt back to the table. 

“Probably not, they’re persistent,” Matt told her. “Even so, being four shots deep isn’t the best state to be in for your first time here in the states. They should know that.”

By the end of the night she ended up being six shots deep plus a couple beers that Marci pushed her way. While hanging out with the little group, Crystal had found herself babbling on and on about baking, telling them how it’s always been her dream to go to culinary school but hasn’t found the opportunity to do so. She shared a few recipes with Marci before Matt began helping her back to her flat. 

Once they got outside the door to her flat, Matt asked, “Post-it still there? Time hasn’t refreshed or anything has it?” 

Crystal scanned the door and saw that the post-it was no longer there, so she said, “Nope, all clear,” followed by a giggle as she fished around her purse for her keys. 

A smile was evident in Matt’s voice as he told her, “You know, you’re a really giggly drunk. It’s endearing.”

“And you’re extremely charming,” she told him, another giggle slipping out at her boldness. 

Crystal began trying to get the key into the doorknob, but dropped them in the process. She bent down to pick them up, but nearly fell over when she straightened. Almost as if instinctively, Crystal felt Matt reach out to steady her, his hand once again landing on her hip as her body pressed back onto his. “Woah there,” he said, an audible smirk on his lips. 

Matt put his hand over Crystal’s and helped her keep it steady as she slipped the key into the doorknob and turned it. The feeling of his hand over hers and their bodies so close together stirred something inside of Crystal, and images of what those hands were probably capable of began to flood her mind. Her breath hitched in her throat momentarily at the thoughts and she felt her blood begin to run south again. Matt’s grip on her hip once again tightened, but this time he shifted his body away from hers, saying, “I think it’s time for you to get inside. Thanks for letting me get you that drink tonight.”

With the alcohol dulling her brain to mouth filter, she once again giggled before telling him, “If there’s more nights like this in the future I wouldn’t mind. With or without alcohol.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he told her quietly before she opened the door and let herself in, a hand on the wall for support. 

“Goodnight, Matt,” she said with a wave.

“‘Night, Crys,” he told her, that charming smile once again making its appearance, along with the butterflies in Crystal’s stomach at the sight. She closed the door before thinking to herself, This man is going to be the death of me…

A few days passed and Matt couldn’t get the night with Crystal at Josie’s out of his head. One evening after a stressful case, he, Foggy, and Karen decided to go out and Matt offered up Stardust, citing, “We haven’t been there at night and you like wine Karen, why not try something different?” 

“He just wants to see Crystal again,” Foggy said under his breath to Karen.

“Let him be happy,” Karen chastised back with a light punch to his shoulder. 

“You guys know I can hear you, right?” Matt called from his office across the room as he packed away his things into his briefcase for the day. 

“We know!” they called back.

As they all walked out of the office, Foggy clapped Matt on the back and said, “You know, I think this is good for you, Matt. Getting out there again and all! Ever since Josie’s Marci’s been on and on about a double date. It’s actually kinda exhausting.”

“Make it a triple,” Karen said with a smile audible in her voice. “I met someone the other night on the way home from Josie’s. We hailed the same cab and figured out we were going to the same place. Turns out we actually have a lot in common and are planning a date for this weekend…”

“Karen Page, would you look at you!” Foggy said in light of the news.

“Good for you, Karen, I’m happy for you,” Matt told her as the three of them walked down the hallway to the exit of their building. 

“And I’ll be happy for you when you finally man up and ask Crystal on a date,” Karen told him, a fake sternness in her tone. 

“Okay, what’s with you two and the pushing for me and her to date all of a sudden?” Matt asked. 

Foggy scoffed before replying, “Matt, buddy, come on.” 

“What?”

“I guess love really is blind,” he joked before getting a playful punch on the shoulder from Matt in return. 

“You’re ridiculous,” Matt said with a chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief. 

While he and his friends ate their respective meals and drinks at Stardust, Matt couldn’t help but listen to Crystal quietly singing to the music playing over the shop’s speakers as she helped Raeyes put up decorations around the shop. She had been off today, but it was by incredible luck that she was there that evening. Foggy swore up and down that Matt had to have known, but he really didn’t. 

Matt was taken out of his slight trance when there were suddenly fingers snapping right beside his ear, startling him back into reality. He shook his head before saying, “Sorry, I got distracted, what were you saying?”

He could hear the disbelief in his voice as Foggy said, “You’ve got it bad man!”

Tilting his head to the side a bit, Matt asked, “What do you mean?”

The sly tone of Karen’s voice came next, saying, “I know what’s got him so distracted.”

“Enlighten me,” Foggy said, a hint of mischief in his voice. 

“He’s always listening to her sing when we’re here, so I assume that’s what he’s doing right now, and the song that’s playing, it’s…let’s say sexually charged.”

“Wait, wait I know this one, it’s Ready For It…? by Taylor Swift, Marci’s always listening to this album!” Foggy’s laugh filled Matt’s ears before he said incredulously, “Don’t tell me you’re picturing sex with the girl you’re too scared to even make a move on, Murdock!”

“He totally is,” Karen’s teasing voice said. 

Foggy nudged Matt in the ribs before asking, “What, are you wishing it was you making her make that noise instead of a song? Can’t get there if you don’t make a move, bud!”

Matt shook his head before asking, “Can we talk about something else? What about what we’re going to do with all the potatoes Mrs. Aledes gave us after we settled her case?”

“No, I think this is something we need to discuss,” Karen said, her tone shifting to something softer now. She laughed lightly before adding, “Not the sex thing, but the subject in general. You’ve clearly had her on your radar for a while, why don’t you make a move?” 

“Yeah, for real, since when has Matthew Murdock not pursued one of the many attractive women he somehow knows how to sniff out?” Foggy asked. “Probably literally.”

“Well I mean besides the obvious…other part of my life historically interfering with the safety of people I care about…” Matt started out with, ignoring the second comment. He sighed before admitting, “I guess I’m still trying to get a read on her. Her body gives me all the signs that she’s attracted to me, but…her heart tends to flutter when she’s talking to other men and women too.”

“People can be bisexual, Matt,” Foggy said matter-of-factly. 

“I know that, you didn’t let me finish, Fog,” Matt said. “I’m not even sure she’s ready for a relationship right now, I’ve heard her turn away other people who have tried to give her their number.”

“Who’s to say she doesn’t want one with you and is just waiting for you to make a move? I’m just saying, this is clearly something you want and sitting here listening to her sing that song isn’t doing anything to help,” Karen said. Laughter burst out of her as she added, “Now think about making a move before I start requesting sex songs every time we come in here!”

Matt chuckled and shook his head as he said, “Please don’t.” What he added in his head after though was, I don’t know if I could hold myself back from her again if you do…

next chapter

[rain-herb]

at second sight

4.7k words, a reikoga / kogarei piece [AO3 link]

“It’s not important,” Koga stresses for clarity, though he doesn’t even seem convincing to himself. “I just thought. Well. Do you think it’s possible to fall in love at first sight?” “I haven't had any experience like that, but it's certainly plausible. Is this about you and Sakuma-senpai?” . UNDEAD works on a new project and Koga mulls over early works, the future, and his relationship with Sakuma Rei.

“Gotta say, doing any form of creating in an environment like this is quite a choice,” notes the high schooler behind the counter after staring in Koga's direction for what feels like the millionth time in thirty minutes. 

He gets that the guy is bored or whatever, but he has no business poking his head into Koga's affairs and even being so judgemental about it. So he is a middle school kid who goes to write lyrics in a live house. But then again, Hakaze Kaoru is a high schooler managing a live house and he doesn't even work here officially or own the place or anything, so who's the weird one here, really?

“It is a good place for me . And you can hardly drive me out for a reason like that,” says Koga, doing his best impression of a problem student who unapologetically does whatever the hell he wants. Being in the live house as he writes is ten times better than just creating while listening to anything with earphones - here he's surrounded by the exact vibe he wants to emulate, the feelings he wants to recreate in his music. Of course, there's also the fact that Sakuma Rei has a performance here this evening.

The room is crowded with the ever-growing Sakuma Rei fanclub even though there's a good two hours before it's time for him to perform onstage, but Koga supposes no one wants to miss out on the chance to get to talk to Rei before that, even if the chances of such a thing happening are low.  His fans almost rival those of that one unit in Yumenosaki that's been popular recently - what was their name again, the one with red and black fancy looking outfits? But the fans of that unit watch their idols like a devotee would watch their god, while Sakuma Rei's fans scream his name like it's all they've ever known.

The fact he is also a Sakuma Rei fan probably wouldn't be surprising to the guy behind the counter who's seen him sneak into the live house enough to remember his face, but he hates the idea of being placed in the same category as certain fans who act crazed over Sakuma Rei and pursue him, but aren't even serious about it like he is. The type who would move on to the next person with a pretty face in time before they even get to understand anything beneath the surface of the superstar image Sakuma Rei created for himself on stage.

“Well, naturally not, if you're a paying customer. Want any refills?”

He huffs, tapping his mechanical pencil against the page filled with scribbles. “No thanks. The tomato juice here is way too sweet for me.”

Then why’d you order that every time you’re here, the not-part-timer doesn’t ask, but his raised eyebrows might as well be doing just that. Instead, he replies automatically in a chipper voice that makes Koga shudder, “In that case, I recommend trying our orange juice—with water mixed in, of course.”

Is this guy even trying to sell him something? Unimpressed, Koga just gives him a flat stare, and then goes back to writing. Distractions, distractions.

His thoughts gravitate to Sakuma Rei and that fated LIVE, as they tend to. Everything could be traced back to that moment, one that he just couldn’t commit to paper. He’s listened to countless other rock songs since then, by both Sakuma Rei and other singers or bands, studied their lyrics, but he still couldn't find the right words for his own song. Now obviously, there’s no formula he could study which would make him magically good at writing lyrics - he wouldn’t even try it out if that kind of thing could be done - but he just knows that something is missing from his work. And it just makes sense, to figure out what it is about Sakuma Rei's lyrics that he likes so much and then head in that same direction. Inspiration and all that. 

Tap, tap, tap goes his pencil against the lined paper, before he forcefully presses it down and scribbles out a few words and phrases and somehow manages to make the worst two lines he’s ever read in his life. The urge to strike the lines out pulls at his hand but he resists, because he's been trying out growing vegetables recently, and it was not going well at all in the beginning because he kept pulling out what he thought were weeds but turned out to be the beginnings of vegetable sprouts. He knows that this works the same way; he’s never going to get an end product without letting things sit and grow. 

Nerd, a stranger’s voice behind him says, and a few others laugh, and his head snaps in their direction. It’s someone in a group of high schoolers in Yumenosaki’s uniform who just came in, approaching the counter to order drinks. Before he could even say anything back, the group had already stopped looking at him, moving on to the other side of the room where people are gathered around tables, talking loudly and cheering and singing badly. So now he’s just more than mildly annoyed, one hand gripping his jiggling leg. It’s times like these that make him wonder why he even bothers aiming to enter a school like that, but there is Sakuma Rei there, which is the only thing that matters. Koga must still go there for the chance of getting close to him, to show that he’s serious about what he says and does. He looks at the unoccupied stage, then at the bored high schooler behind the counter. He’s also wearing the signature blue blazer, the familiar school logo on the breast pocket. Koga snaps his notebook shut and grabs the guitar case that he’s left leaning against the counter this whole time.

“Hey, boss.”

“Not the boss,” corrects Hakaze Kaoru. He doesn’t look his way. “What do you need?”

Koga gestures towards the stage. “Is no one performing right now?”

“I suppose not? We don't really have anything scheduled before Sakuma-san's performance later at eight.” Kaoru pauses. “Actually, we don’t really have much of a schedule here these days. So anyone's free to do whatever they want.”

“So it's fine if I go up there and play, is what you're saying?”

The smile Koga receives is an odd mix between that of a slimy businessman and an amused kid. “The floor is yours. Do as you please.”

..

Some time after UNDEAD makes their official debut, ES announces a new project planned for the coming new year. All units will be required to do introductions of their Yumenosaki era for new fans, so they have to pick out pictures of significant events in their idol activities so far to go in the new albums (not the music kind, unfortunately).

Which brings the four of them back to school, sprawled around the library seats in the most uncool, unidol-like ways, to look through school records for pictures and video footage. A sad result that stemmed from the fact that amongst UNDEAD, only two guys could use smartphones with the proficiency normal people have, and only one of them actually cares about taking nice pictures, and that one person is not Koga - not that nice pictures already posted on Twitter and Instagram could be used though, much to Kaoru’s dismay. Just having pictures isn't enough either - all of them are supposed to write their thoughts on the pictures too, for that special, personal touch.

Koga groans about why they couldn’t have just gone with the behind-the-scenes footage (he receives the unsatisfying answer of those are for the concert DVDs, this is different! ), though the workload isn’t actually that bad so he doesn’t actually mind that much. Writing comes easier to him nowadays, especially when it doesn’t concern schoolwork. Sakuma-senpai had mentioned before that things might be slightly different now, with their new and growing audiences after they’ve outgrown the inexperience of their academy days and stepped foot into the industry for real.

“The staff also asked us to try our best to match our pictures with the theme of ‘returning to the beginning point’,” Rei announces after they manage to locate the specific albums for their unit, reading the last part from an email which Koga helped him to pull up on his phone.

“Beginning point?” Adonis echoes, the saying unfamiliar on his tongue.

Koga turns back from the shelves, placing down another album on the table and leaning his arms against the back of Rei's chair as he tries to explain, “It’s like remembering your feelings when you first started out and not losing sight of your aspirations, something along those lines.” 

Both Rei and Adonis nod at his answer, the former in agreement, the latter in gratitude and understanding.

“They sure love those kinds of themes, huh?” Kaoru sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. 

“They did say ‘try’ so it’s likely fine even if our choices don't really match.”

“Well, it’s probably not hard to come up with something, at least.” Kaoru flips a huge amount of pages of the album at once, skipping back to the first few pages. 

Rei sinks down in his chair, turning his head upwards, and Koga is suddenly met with a gaze from under long eyelashes. “What do you think we should include, Koga?” 

A few strands of hair fall to the side of his face and Koga has to force himself to tear his gaze away from those dark red eyes. He quickly pulls out the chair next to Rei and sits down in a motion that is not unnatural at all, excuse you, ignoring the three pointed stares his unitmates surely have pointed at him and clears his throat.

“The formation of UNDEAD and the repayment festival have to be in there,” he says after a brief moment of consideration. All of UNDEAD's projects and performances are important and meaningful to him (barring the dumb variety shows they've been made to participate in by their new agency, but he keeps his mouth shut because he loves UNDEAD and trusts Rei's judgement enough to tolerate such things for now), so picking out a few specific ones is no easy feat. 

Kaoru exclaims, “The beginning and the end!”

“Not the end. More like a new beginning. For both you guys,” he gestures to Rei and Kaoru, “and us,” he gestures to himself and Adonis, who straightens up a little in his seat. 

“And we will be welcoming a new beginning soon again, with the publication of this new project.”

“That’s true.”

“Should we include commentary on Koga-kun's confession during the repayfes too?” Kaoru adds with a barely concealed giggle.

“ Hakaze-senpai …” he warns in a low voice, receiving a frantic wave of hands and a haha, just joking in response. Adonis also chuckles along, amused. Koga sneaks a look at Rei, only to find him staring right back, an unreadable look on his face. His throat goes a little dry.

The repayment festival. He thinks back to the things he said that fateful day - he hadn't meant it that time, but those things he said did kind of qualify as a confession, didn't they? Sakuma-senpai had accepted his challenge, listened to what Koga had said, but hadn't exactly responded specifically to that , although they both left those distant names behind and returned to calling each other what they did since the beginning.

(They were both incredibly embarrassed about it for a period of time that should not have lasted as long as it did—what were they, a couple who just got together?)

But then again, he supposes his feelings for Sakuma Rei have never been a secret since the beginning.

Back in the present though, the group stops with the jokes and messing around and goes back to picking out pictures from various events. In his head, Koga drafts out his comments for the repayfes picture, which ended up being the one where the four of them are lined before the stage decorated in pastel colours and heart-shaped white day decorations, shoulder to shoulder. Of course, there’s no mention of that event. After that, they go to the café they used to frequent in the area, and he sits next to Rei as usual and does not think about maybe-love confessions, or odd comments made by the twins onstage, or promises and hopes for the future.

..

Under a picture of Koga and his classmates in their classroom that somehow managed to sneak its way into the final album, there’s a series of comments written using a marker pen with differing handwriting:

Koga studies with Youtube videos like ‘intense and a little sad guitar’ playing in the background.

You saw me listen to that ONCE. And that's got nothing to do with the picture!

Of course it has, I'm sure our fans will be delighted to learn cute trivia like this about Koga ^^

^ These guys are just like that all the time.

..

A month from graduation, Koga sits on one of the benches outside the classrooms and near the field, letting it all—the fact that he’ll soon leave this place, that he’ll be an adult and seen as a professional, maybe, and that he’ll be very busy but in a way he could only welcome with wide arms—sink in. Adonis jogs over to him, in sportswear and with a towel around his neck, having just finished with his club activities. He hands Adonis a water bottle and some sweets he received earlier from his kouhai in the light music club, to which Adonis receives with a grateful nod and smile.

The club members had organised something like a farewell party for him, and the twins even got Sakuma-senpai on the phone for him, stressing how they specially went out of their way to contact their previous club president to give him a few words. He hadn’t expected Rei to actually be on the phone, fully expecting it to be a prank that Rei was in on, maybe a recording prepared by the twins, because that was the exact kind of thing they’d do. But it was indeed Rei's voice, the real person in real time, calling him during the ten minute break between photoshoot sessions. Rei had then proceeded to speak like they had not seen each other for a year (they just had dinner together yesterday) and, after Koga switched to speaker mode as per his request, gave a short speech that made him seem surprisingly becoming of a (former) club president. Everyone else gave an applause at that and laughed, and so did he.

The whole thing was incredibly dumb, and he couldn’t help but think about how much he’d like to see Rei again.

Today’s one of the days where he and Adonis don’t have any meetings or photoshoots or idol work, which means he won’t be seeing Sakuma-senpai until—Friday? Or maybe the weekends. He glares at the setting sun like it’s offended him somehow, unsure of whether he wants to go back to school days with Sakuma-senpai or skip forward to when they start working as a full unit at long last, which is a dumb thought because of course there’s only one answer. So he interrupts that train of thought and occupies his mind with something else instead, opening his mouth without really thinking about what he’s about to say next.

“Adonis, do you believe—nevermind, forget it, it's dumb.”

Adonis perks up from behind his red bean manju. “What is it, Oogami?”

“It's not anything important.”

“Okay,” Adonis says, which leaves the choice of whether or not to continue with Koga instead, but with that straightened posture and that look , the one that says he’s always willing to listen, should Oogami be willing to speak. Koga internally curses his friend’s patience and sincere eyes, and allows words to fall from his mouth.

“It’s not important,” Koga stresses for clarity, though he doesn’t even seem convincing to himself. “I just thought. Well. Do you think it’s possible to fall in love at first sight?”

“I haven't had any experience like that, but it's certainly plausible. Is this about you and Sakuma-senpai?”

The sudden leap to conclusion is so jarring that he has to process it for a few seconds before he could respond. “No! What makes you think of that?”

“Hakaze-senpai mentioned something like that.” 

Of course. He rolls his eyes and sighs.

“Besides that,” Adonis adds, “Sakuma-senpai also seems like the only possible choice when it comes to you, Oogami.” 

“Well, I guess it's not completely nothing to do with Sakuma-senpai. I told you before, right? That time after I first saw him, I admired him a great deal and got into guitar and lyric writing because of that. And then my parents were convinced that I'd fallen for him at first sight or whatever.

He twists a leaf between his fingers.

“I don't think I would call it that though, even if that encounter was a big thing for me. I just knew that my life would be thoroughly changed because of it. Because of him.”

..

A meeting with Anzu at RhyLin brings to them both good and bad news: the good news being that the people in charge were really happy with their choice of pictures and comments, and the bad being that now they want more. 

It doesn't have to be pictures, according to her. Just something that could showcase their growth. Thus, Rei suggests including handwritten drafts of their early music, which is as personal as it gets. 

“To me, creating has always been about making yourself known to your audience,” says Rei, tapping his fingers against the meeting table as he ponders his next words. “The songs we write could be stories too, even if it's not as direct as the kind of performances that Itsuki-kun designs for his unit, or Hibiki-kun’s stage plays. Or they could be feelings that we want to tell people about. We put parts of ourselves into our songs and hope the audience receives them kindly.”

The rest of them agree, of course, which means that all of the work goes to Rei and Koga as the composer and lyricist of the unit. They receive words of encouragement and pats on the back from the remaining two, who set off on their merry way, and Koga couldn't even be mad because he doesn't want more people than necessary to read his old lyrics, so.

And here’s the thing: it’s not even that he thinks his old work is terrible, even if some of it makes him want to hurl something into the wall when he reads through it sometimes. He’s grown a great deal since the time when he first started, but reading those words by his fourteen-year-old self sends him right back to a time where he knew nothing but boredom eating away at a bleak world that he couldn’t seem to escape no matter what he did. It’s almost like a part of him from that time had been buried into these lyrics and travelled across time just to clock him in the face as he opened up the notebook. Which is to say, too personal for others to read, even by his standards.

It is late in the afternoon when Rei arrives at the doorstep of Koga's newly rented apartment on his own, carrying a change of clothes and other necessities in a paper bag. The two of them spend the day mostly getting distracted, reading through old notebooks and papers, and Koga almost forgets about dinner until Rei's stomach rumbles. Then he rummages through his refrigerator and ends up cooking pork and cabbage in chicken broth, served together with rice. When he returns to the living room with the food, Rei is busy cuddling and petting Leon, a sight common enough whenever those two were in the same room. Rei comments that his cooking is homey and wonderful, and a proud grin tugs at his lips. I’ll prepare you something special when our new song makes the charts, he says, and Rei says it’s a promise and that he’ll look forward to it. Then Koga goes to shower first, letting Rei work on the beginnings of that new song in his living room.

..

“You can use the bathroom now if you want,” Koga calls out when he's done, drying his hair as he steps out of the bathroom, expecting to receive a lazy hum of affirmation, but none comes. The living room is quiet and somewhat dim at the current hour; there is no slender, dark-clothed figure to be found lying on the couch. He turns the other way and sure enough, faint, yellowish table lamp light can be seen pouring out from his bedroom. 

“Sakuma-senpai?” he calls out again, poking a head into the room. His first course of action is to switch on the ceiling lights, which gets the attention of the figure seated before his desk, his head bobbing upwards for a bit before returning to its original position. There's a little hum of acknowledgement at last, accompanied with the sound of a page flipping. Whatever Rei is looking at has him absorbed in it.

“I’m looking at your early works,” Rei says, seeming to sense his unspoken question. Koga couldn't see his face from where he's standing, but he could hear a smile somehow, the type that usually signifies the incoming of an embarrassing and/or teasing statement.

He eyes the notebook from behind Rei, and yeah, the scrawl of random phrases to be used and wonky handwriting, those are some of his oldest work alright–

Wait.

He reaches out his hand to snatch the book over, but Rei is faster, swiping up the thing in one swift motion and standing up. 

“Where on Earth did you find that!” Koga yells, because that notebook is a middle school exercise book, and he has stopped doing any composing in school exercise books since forever.

“I just picked a random notebook off your shelf,” Rei laughs, holding it far away out of his reach. “And there's no need to be embarrassed, Koga, I've read your works back then too, right?”

Like hell it's the same. His lyrics in his first year weren't great, but definitely much better than the stuff he wrote as a middle schooler. Shit. 

Koga shoots back, “Yeah, like you weren’t super embarrassed yourself when they showed your old stage recordings as a prank on those reality shows!”

That gets Rei to pause, which gives Koga enough time to snatch the book back. Thankfully, Rei doesn't seem to make any movement to take it back, moving a hand to his face to conceal an awkward cough. 

“That’s different.”

Quality-wise, probably, yeah. Koga shoves the notebook into his desk drawer and sits on the desk, blocking access. A crestfallen look comes across Rei’s face that Koga is almost certain is feigned, but he gives in and decides to say something comfortingly honest anyway.

“Those performances were good though. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn't know shit.”

Rei doesn’t seem comforted by that though, throwing him an exaggerated scandalised look. “Even me? That's a little harsh, don't you think, Koga?”

“That's not what I meant and you know it,” Koga says flatly, remembering the moment he first discovered that the guitarist he had liked from before turned out to be Rei too, Rei from before he had known him. Maybe it really is fate, at this rate.

“I know,” Rei says, smiling faintly. “Though I must say, the person I was then feels decades away from who I am now.”

He narrows his eyes. “Sakuma-senpai, you are literally the only person I know who speaks like they’re capable of discarding their whole identity and personality and turning into an entirely different person in a day.”

“That’s impossible though,” Rei says, eyes closed and head tilted to the side.

“My point.”

“But who knows,” Rei murmurs, voice low suddenly, “maybe I am capable of doing that? Maybe now, I have already changed into someone else entirely.”

He knocks a knuckle on Rei’s forehead lightly. “You’re Sakuma-senpai. And now, you’re going to take a shower before it gets too late.”

“Okay,” Rei sings, dragging out the word in his usual tone. He seems pleased, Koga notes, as he goes to get his clothes and towel. 

..

Sleep feels impossible with Sakuma Rei on his bedroom floor. 

Koga’s bed is not big enough to fit two guys, thus the futon for Rei that he made sure to prepare before his visit. Sharing a room with Sakuma Rei is not new to him, at this point. They usually share hotel rooms when there are performances in other cities, and even before that, there were a few times where Rei pulled Koga into his coffin in the light music club to nap, though the more often occurrence was Rei napping in the coffin while Koga did his own thing next to him, usually playing the guitar or doing homework, if there’s no one else around or if he didn’t have anything better to do. Does that even count? 

He turns around again, now facing the general direction of Rei’s back instead of the wall. There should be no reason for him to be feeling like this, like some embarrassing eleven year old with an embarrassing crush. But he guesses that it’s one thing to share a hotel room with your unit leader that you’re in love with for job-related reasons, and another thing entirely to have that person in the comfort of your own home.

All of a sudden, Rei turns over to face him too. “Having trouble sleeping?”

“What the h—I thought you were asleep already!” Koga blurts, pushing himself to sit up. 

“Nope. And maybe you should try closing your eyes, if you’re trying to get some sleep.”

He rolls his eyes. “I don’t need you to tell me that .”

“Too excited?”

“For what, exactly?”

“I don’t know. Our new album? Tomorrow’s meals?”

That gets a laugh out of Koga. “Do you want to go somewhere tomorrow? Since our schedules are clear.”

“We can go wherever you want to go, Koga.”

“I’m asking you here, Mr. Superstar who never gets time off.”

“And you’re as wonderfully considerate as ever.” If it were anyone else saying that, he would think they were being sarcastic. But this is Sakuma-senpai, whose smile could be heard in the tone he speaks in. “You’ll have to let me think about it.”

The room falls silent once again, but this time he feels more at ease than moments before. And a thought pops into his head. If grand confessions aren’t going to get him a proper response, he supposes a casual one might do the trick. Away from the eyes of their friends, of a crowd, a quiet place with just the two of them. A moment just like this, even.

“Hey, Sakuma-senpai.”

“What is it?”

“I love you,” he says easily, like it’s a habit of his to just say that casually to Sakuma Rei before they part ways every day. Even in the dark, he manages to catch the way Rei's eyes widen at his unexpected words. There’s a sound of blankets shifting. A smile tugs at Koga's lips as he lies back down. “Just so you know. Good night.”

His reply comes after a moment of shocked silence.

“Wait, wait.” Rei’s voice wavers uncharacteristically as he gets up, draws closer.

Koga does not wait. Instead, he closes his eyes and snores comically loudly. Sweet revenge, he thinks with a childish sense of satisfaction. Fingers wrap around his shoulder.

“Don’t sleep yet. Koga. Ko—ga,” Rei calls out lightly by his ear, almost like a pout. “You can’t just leave that out there like this. Don’t you want to hear my answer?” 

He cracks open an eye. “You have an answer for me?”

“This time,” Rei assures him. His face is pressed against the side of Koga’s single-sized bed, his hair messy and sticking in all sorts of directions, and it’s unfair how he still manages to look good like that. “I’ll say it properly, promise.”

“Okay,” Koga says at last. As he rises back up, a cool hand brushes against his cheek.

Sakuma Rei leans over, pressing a soft kiss to Koga’s lips.

“I love you too.”

[retouchingshop]

What does Reserved mean on Poshmark?

What does Reserved mean on Poshmark? Are they put up by the buyers or something automatic?

 It has some keyword meanings.

On Poshmark, the term “Reserved” indicates that an item listed for sale has been set aside or held for a specific customer.

 Sellers on Poshmark can reserve an item for a potential buyer who has expressed interest in purchasing Poshmark.

You could wait because the yellow mark only lasts a few minutes. 

Once the timer is up, check and recheck whether the product is sold.

What does Reserved mean on Poshmark?

Reserved AKA yellow mark on the product listing appears when a buyer clicks on the button for buy. The reserved mark stays in place for ten minutes while the specific buyer fills out information. It allows the buyers to keep in the buying process while giving signals to buyers.

As a buyer, when you see a glowing yellow saying “Reserved”, it indicates that a buyer is in the process of buying it. More in the after section.

Steps on Manually Reserve on Poshmark

Well, Poshmark doesn’t offer you the manual option to reserve any item. But you have an alternative way that would help you prevent your listed product from getting sold.

Hence, you could apply the “Note For Sell’ label to your listing. To do so, you only have to click on the edit option from the listing detail page. Afterward, you only have to tap on the option “Mark as not for Sale”. In the same way, when you want to make it available, go into Edit> Mak as Available” in the Poshmark app

Beneficial of Reserving Feature on Poshmark

The reserved am Poshmark helps users, commonly referred to as “Poshers” avoid misunderstanding in their transactions by allowing them to sortly hold an item for a potential buyer without immediately committing to buying.

Here’s how the reserve feature helps with misunderstandings.

Temporary Hold: When a potential buyer expresses interest in an item listed on Poshmark, the seller can use the Reserve feature to temporarily “hold” the item.

Communication: By initiating a reserve, the seller and potential buyer can communicate more and more about the transaction.

Commitment: If the buyer decides not to proceed with the purchase, the seller can remove the reserve, and the item becomes available for others to buy.

How can I Reserve an Item on Poshmark?

Poshmark doesn’t have a feature to reserve items. However, you can prevent your listed product from being sold by marking it as “Not for Sale”. When you want to mark it available again, just go to edit and choose “Mark as Available” in the app.

How Long Is An Item Reserved On Poshmark?

An item can only be reserved on Poshmark for up to ten minutes. During this time, the label remains in place while someone completes the purchase. After ten minutes, the label disappears from the list automatically. This system ensures fairness and allows buyers to check the current status of the product within the given time

Conclusion

When you know what is reserved on Poshmark, working will become easier it lets discover one of the helpful features of a sell-buy platform.

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Photo Retouching Services

[ben10-daily]

Day 71

If you haven't read my did this probably makes no sense. I warn that there is some Bakugo bashing, I am working to remedy this.

Omnitrix notes for my fanfic, My hero academia: the hero of heroes.

This final model of the Omnitrix was primarily built by Azmuth with help from his assistants Albedo and Myaxx.

Since this model was built with hero work in mind the timer function was scrapped all together.

The ultimatrix function is already built into this omnitrix however it is locked beneath several failsafes, although a glitch in the system or if the Omnitrix AI recognises a big enough threat to it's user it will unlock the function.

There are many code combinations that will unlock varying aliens. For example NRG was unlocked by tapping the faceplate twice. Other forms may have more complex sequences, Alien X is an example of this has his unlock code has 10 sequences that must be keyed in within 30 seconds. (This may change)

The Omnitrix AI has the combined intellect of Azmuth, Albedo, Myaxx, Tetrax and many other beings, one of these is suspected to be the recently missing Lord Zs'skayr.

The Omnitrix has the ability to scan quirks and does so automatically, however the usage of this function is under 27 digital locks and can only be activated by the creator. Up to 5 quirks can be used at one time before the wielder is at risk of their mental state declining.

[higumei-guidebook]

Higurashi Mei: Gameplay Basics

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Mei is an auto-battler mobile game based around collecting and training up "Cards", which each represent a character you can add to your party to participate in quests.

As it is the primary gameplay feature of Mei, here is an overview of the basics of most quests you can send your Cards on.

Quest Menu

On the Home Screen, tap the little scroll icon. This will take you to the quest menu, featured above. We'll cover each of the different options in more in depth posts, but for now let's go over the basics.

In order to run MOST quest types, you need to consume Stamina. You will find your current amount of stamina at the top of most screens-- It's the little counter with the big red Heart by it.

Quest Prep Screen

You will also see it once you select a quest to run, toward the bottom right. The middle line shows you how much stamina the quest will consume: In the example above, it will consume 8 out of my 18 remaining stamina points. A note: If you fail the quest, the stamina will not be consumed, aside from some exceptions.

I'll cover how to earn stamina in it's own section. As a beginner, you should have enough to play quite a bit for now!

Battle Screen

Quests come in many different forms, but all involve your party battling monsters and/or other Cards. Your Cards will battle on their own-- All you have to do is organize a strong enough Party to complete the quest.

Quests are completed by defeating all the enemies on screen. If all your party members are knocked out OR if the timer in the top right runs out before they can do this, you fail the quest.

💮Wave Counter: Firstly, in the top left, we have a "Wave" counter. This is to tell you what "Stage" or "Wave" of enemies you are currently fighting. Most quests have 2 to 3 Waves.

💮Item Boxes: Next to the wave counter is a little box icon with gold detailing. These are Item Boxes. Enemies drop them, and each contains a reward you will receive for completing the Quest. If your party loses, you will not get the boxes you've gathered.

💮Timer: In the top right, you have your time limit. It resets with each wave. As mentioned above, if the clock runs out and enemies are still standing, you lose.

💮Menu: The top rightmost button is your menu. The middlemost button will allow you to mess with volume mixing, as well as toggle whether or not to skip Limit Skill animations. The rightmost button allows you to quit the quest-- Select the red button on the screen it leads to to confirm, and the other to cancel. The leftmost button will resume the quest.

💮Party Members: On the bottom you will see your party members. They have a health bar, and, if they are an SR or SSR rank card, they will have a blue bar below it. When this bar fills up they can perform their special Limit Attack. They'll have a little "GO!" Next to their name when this is availible. Tap them to activate it. ‼️Note: If you see little flashing white segments on a health bar, that means the character is healing that amount due to a party member's healing skill.

💮Auto Limit Skill Toggle: The top button in the bottom right is a toggle to automatically activate a character's Limit Skill when ready. It's on when it's highlighted blue like above.

💮Speed Up: You can speed up battles up to 4x speed. Big recommend.

And Lastly for our basics guide:

When you clear a stage, you'll get a star ranking from 1 to 3 (in the bottom left, there.) 3 stars are obtained when you complete a quest with all party members still standing. I recommend doing this, as you get 10 Oni Stones, the primary gacha currency, per star earned, as well as various bonuses for collecting as many as you can!

[thehuggamugcafe]

Dead By Daylight Perks (II)

I was bored earlier, so I decided to come up with 3 Survivor Perks for myself. I looked through the Survivors’ Perks with a mental fine-toothed comb, so I hope I stuck to the mechanics well enough. Lemme know what y’all think of these, please.

Telekinesis

Nothing will get in your way.

Your psychic energies lash out at anyone who dares to bar your path between you and freedom.

After successfully escaping the Killer while being chased or healing another Survivor a full state, Telekinesis is activated for the next 20/40/60 seconds:

When being grabbed or picked up by the Killer, succeed a Skill Check to automatically escape their grasp, stunning them for 3/5/7 seconds.

Successfully stunning the Killer will cause Telekinesis to be unable to be activated until your next successful escape from the Killer or healing another Survivor.

Telekinesis is disabled once the Exit Gates are powered.

Increases the odds of becoming the Obsession by 100%.

The Killer can only be obsessed with one Survivor at a time.

“How’s a lady supposed to get anywhere? Dammit, get outta my way!”

Boon: Prognosis

Your mind psychically projects itself to imprint upon various key points to warn others of threats, both near and distant, and the means to help themselves to steer clear of them. Press and hold the Active Ability button on a Dull or Hex Totem to bless it and create a Boon Totem. Soft chimes ring out in a radius of 24 metres. All Survivors benefit from the following effects when inside the Boon Totem’s radius:

The Killer’s Aura is revealed to all Survivors in red if within 10/20/30 metres of their current location.

5% Haste Status Effect. This effect is stackable when coupled with other abilities that boost your movement speed, as long as they are currently in effect while inside the Boon Totem’s range.

The above effects linger for 3/6/9 seconds after leaving the Boon Totem’s range.

Only one Boon Totem can be blessed by your Boon Perks at a time and all of their effects are active on the same Boon Totem. “A step closer and you’d have been royally fucked, my friend. You want to avoid danger? Pro tip: look before you leap.”

Equivalent Exchange

You know that nothing is gained without first sacrificing something for it.

Unlocks potential in your Aura-reading ability.

Equivalent Exchange activates after another Survivor takes a protection hit for you, staying active for 10/20/30 seconds. Should you take a hit for a Survivor within the time Equivalent Exchange remains active, you can tap into your mental energies to avoid damage until Equivalent Exchange suffers from a cooldown period.

While Equivalent Exchange is active, you benefit from the following effects:

You gain a 3/5/7% Haste Status Effect for 3/6/9 seconds once you are no longer being chased by the Killer.

You gain a 10% boost in healing and cleansing actions.

The Survivor who you took a protection hit for has their Aura revealed to you in green for 10/20/30 seconds.

You become the Killer’s Obsession, if not already.

If playing against The Trapper, you can leave a psychic imprint on his Bear Traps, 1 for each prestige level, for a total of 3. All marked Bear Traps are revealed to all Survivors in yellow.

Equivalent Exchange ignores an existing Exhaustion timer, but causes the Exhausted Status Effect for 60/40/20 seconds.

Reduces the odds of becoming the Killer’s initial Obsession by -100%.

The Killer can only be obsessed with one Survivor at a time.

Equivalent Exchange has a cooldown period of 30 seconds upon activation.

You cannot use Equivalent Exchange if you are in the Deep Wound state or suffer from the Broken Status Effect.

“I’m not someone who lets a debt go unpaid. Now make yourself scarce and for the love of Christ, be quiet while you do it.”    

[chemical-killjoy]

bathrooms that DON'T close between 5pm and 8am, and DON'T have an automatic ten-minute timer.

it also means free bubblers and taps to refill water bottles while walking (and not having to buy more water at Maccas and waste plastic and money)

walkable cities also means sittable cities send tweet

[homeappliance11]

Remote Control for Your Home: The Power of Wi-Fi Smart Sockets

In today’s world, convenience and energy efficiency are at the core of every smart home. With the rapid advancement of home automation, Wi-Fi Smart Sockets have emerged as one of the simplest yet most effective ways to transform ordinary appliances into smart devices. Whether you want to control your lights, coffee maker, or TV remotely, a Wi-Fi Smart Socket allows you to do so with just a tap on your smartphone. If you are looking to buy Wi-Fi Smart Sockets online, this guide will help you understand their benefits, features, and how they can revolutionize your home.

What Are Wi-Fi Smart Sockets?

A Wi-Fi Smart Socket is an innovative plug that connects to your home’s Wi-Fi network, allowing you to control any plugged-in appliance remotely via a mobile app or voice commands. These smart sockets provide greater control, energy efficiency, and automation, making your home smarter and more efficient.

If you’re considering upgrading your home with smart technology, buying Crabtree Wi-Fi Smart Sockets is a great choice. Known for their reliability, safety, and premium quality, Crabtree Smart Sockets enhance convenience and energy management.

Benefits of Wi-Fi Smart Sockets

1. Remote Control of Appliances

With a Wi-Fi Smart Socket, you can control your home appliances from anywhere using your smartphone. Whether you’re at work, on vacation, or simply in another room, you can switch appliances on or off remotely. This is especially useful for:

Turning off forgotten appliances (like a heater or curling iron)

Scheduling devices to turn on before you arrive home

Ensuring your devices are only on when needed

2. Voice Control for Hands-Free Convenience

Many Wi-Fi Smart Sockets are compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, allowing for voice-controlled automation. Instead of manually operating appliances, you can simply say commands like:

“Alexa, turn on the living room lamp.”

“Hey Google, switch off the coffee maker.”

“Siri, power off the fan.”

3. Energy Savings and Lower Electricity Bills

One of the most significant advantages of using Wi-Fi Smart Sockets is energy efficiency. By scheduling appliances to turn off when not in use, you can reduce energy wastage and lower your electricity bills. Some smart sockets even provide energy consumption reports, helping you monitor and optimize your usage.

4. Automation and Scheduling Features

A Wi-Fi Smart Socket allows you to set timers and schedules for various devices. Imagine waking up to your coffee maker already brewing your morning cup or having your lights turn on automatically at sunset. These automation features make daily routines seamless and hassle-free.

5. Enhanced Home Security

By using Wi-Fi Smart Sockets, you can create the illusion that someone is home even when you’re away. Set up automated schedules to turn lights and devices on/off at random intervals, deterring potential burglars.

6. Compact and Easy Installation

Unlike complex smart home setups, Wi-Fi Smart Sockets are easy to install. Just plug the smart socket into an existing outlet, connect it to your home Wi-Fi using the manufacturer’s app, and start controlling your devices remotely.

7. Compatibility with Smart Home Ecosystems

Crabtree Wi-Fi Smart Accessories and Sockets integrate seamlessly with popular smart home ecosystems, allowing you to connect them with other smart devices like smart thermostats, security cameras, and lighting systems for a complete home automation experience.

How to Choose the Best Wi-Fi Smart Socket

When you decide to buy Wi-Fi Smart Sockets online, consider the following factors to ensure you get the best product for your needs:

1. Wi-Fi Connectivity and App Support

Ensure the Wi-Fi Smart Socket is compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks and supports a user-friendly mobile app for seamless remote control.

2. Power Rating and Load Capacity

Check the power rating of the smart socket to ensure it can handle the electrical load of the appliances you plan to connect. High-powered devices like air conditioners or refrigerators may require higher-rated sockets.

3. Voice Assistant Compatibility

If you use voice assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, choose a Wi-Fi Smart Socket that supports voice commands for hands-free control.

4. Scheduling and Timer Functions

Look for smart sockets that offer customizable scheduling, countdown timers, and automation features to optimize energy usage.

5. Energy Monitoring Features

Some advanced Wi-Fi Smart Sockets provide real-time energy consumption tracking, helping you identify which devices consume the most power and take steps to reduce waste.

6. Compact Design and Safety Features

A compact design ensures the smart socket doesn’t block adjacent outlets.

Surge protection and overload protection enhance safety by preventing electrical hazards.

Where to Buy Wi-Fi Smart Sockets Online

If you’re ready to transform your home with smart technology, you can buy Crabtree Wi-Fi Smart Sockets from:

Official brand websites (Crabtree and Havells)

Authorized e-commerce platforms

Home automation stores offering smart home accessories

Before making a purchase, check for:

Customer reviews for reliability and performance

Warranty details for long-term assurance

Installation and setup guides for ease of use

Smart Home Automation Ideas Using Wi-Fi Smart Sockets

1. Automate Your Morning Routine

Schedule your coffee maker to start brewing when you wake up.

Turn on your bedroom heater or fan before you get out of bed.

2. Effortless Evening Setup

Program your living room lights to turn on at sunset.

Set your TV and entertainment system to switch off automatically at bedtime.

3. Save Energy While You’re Away

Turn off all unnecessary devices remotely when leaving home.

Use the vacation mode to randomly turn on lights and appliances to give the impression of occupancy.

4. Secure Your Home at Night

Set up motion-activated lighting with smart sockets.

Automatically switch off outdoor lights in the morning to save energy.

Final Thoughts

A Wi-Fi Smart Socket is a small yet powerful addition to your smart home setup, providing convenience, energy efficiency, and enhanced security. Whether you want to remotely control appliances, schedule device usage, or integrate with voice assistants, these smart sockets offer unmatched flexibility.

If you’re looking to buy Wi-Fi Smart Sockets online, go for Crabtree Wi-Fi Smart Sockets, known for their superior quality, advanced features, and seamless integration with smart home ecosystems.

[profile-234]

The Benefits of Smart Home Lighting Systems for Residential Spaces

When you think of a smart home, chances are you imagine gadgets that make life easier, safer, and more energy-efficient. One of the simplest yet most impactful upgrades you can make to your home is installing a smart lighting system. These innovative systems offer a wide array of benefits that can enhance your home’s ambiance, save on energy bills, and improve your security. If you're in Manassas, VA, look no further than Capital Trimlight, the best choice for all your residential lighting needs.

1. Convenience and Control

One of the major perks of smart home lighting systems is convenience. Imagine walking into a room and having the lights automatically turn on, or adjusting your lights from the comfort of your bed without having to get up. With smart lighting, you can control the lights in your home with a simple tap on your smartphone, tablet, or even with voice commands through a virtual assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Whether you're in the living room or away on vacation, you can manage your lights with ease.

2. Energy Efficiency

Smart home lighting is not only convenient but also energy-efficient. Many smart lights allow you to dim the brightness or set timers to ensure that the lights aren’t left on unnecessarily. In fact, some systems even come with sensors that turn off the lights when no one is in the room. Over time, this can result in significant savings on your electricity bill. Plus, the smart bulbs themselves are often LED, which uses less energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs.

3. Customization and Ambiance

With a smart lighting system, you have complete control over the mood and atmosphere of each room in your home. Whether you're hosting a dinner party, enjoying a cozy movie night, or simply reading a book, you can adjust the lighting to match your mood. You can even create pre-set scenes that suit different times of day or activities. Many smart lighting systems offer a wide range of colors, allowing you to change the ambiance from warm, soft tones to bright, vibrant colors with just a few taps or voice commands.

4. Improved Security

Smart home lighting also plays a crucial role in home security. By setting timers or using motion detectors, you can simulate your presence at home, even when you’re away. For example, you can program your lights to turn on at specific times or randomly to deter potential intruders. Additionally, many systems allow you to remotely control your lights, so you can easily turn them on or off to make it look like someone is home, enhancing your security when you’re traveling.

5. Increased Home Value

Incorporating smart technology into your home, like a smart lighting system, can increase the overall value of your property. Today’s homebuyers are looking for homes that are modern and equipped with the latest technologies. Installing a smart lighting system can make your home stand out and appeal to tech-savvy buyers who appreciate the ease and efficiency of smart home devices.

6. Integration with Other Smart Devices

Smart lighting systems often integrate seamlessly with other smart home devices, such as smart thermostats, security cameras, and even door locks. This creates a fully connected home that can be controlled from one central hub or app. For instance, you can set your lights to turn off automatically when you lock the door, or have them flash when your security system detects movement.

Why Choose Capital Trimlight for Your Smart Home Lighting?

If you’re in Manassas, VA, and considering a smart lighting upgrade, Capital Trimlight is your go-to residential service provider. Their team specializes in residential lighting solutions that include everything from smart lighting installation to design and automation. Whether you want to enhance your home’s atmosphere or improve energy efficiency, Capital Trimlight will work with you to create the perfect lighting setup that suits your needs. With their expertise and high-quality products, you can enjoy all the benefits of smart lighting while knowing you're in great hands.

Incorporating smart home lighting into your home can truly transform your living space. From added convenience to improved security, the benefits are hard to ignore. If you’re ready to make the switch, trust Capital Trimlight to guide you through the process and deliver a top-notch lighting system that will enhance your home for years to come.

[parryware01]

What Are the Most Advanced Features in Modern Sensor Taps?

Incorporating smart technology into home and commercial spaces has become a trend in modern interior design. One of the most significant advancements in bathroom fixtures is the sensor tap. These taps use motion-sensing technology to provide a hands-free, efficient, and hygienic way to access water. From water conservation to smart automation, modern sensor tap designs come with innovative features that enhance user experience.

This blog explores the most advanced features in sensor tap technology, how they improve efficiency, and why they are becoming an essential addition to modern bathrooms.

1. Motion Sensor Technology for Touch-Free Operation

One of the defining features of a sensor tap is its touchless operation. The built-in infrared sensor detects hand movement and automatically starts or stops the water flow. This eliminates the need for manual operation, making it ideal for:

Improving hygiene in high-traffic areas

Reducing the spread of bacteria and viruses

Enhancing convenience for children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities

With its sensor faucet design, these taps are widely used in public restrooms, luxury hotels, and residential bathrooms to promote a cleaner and safer environment.

2. Water Conservation with Smart Flow Control

Modern sensor tap designs incorporate smart flow control mechanisms that help conserve water by ensuring it is only used when needed. Some advanced features include:

Timed Water Flow: Automatically turns off after a preset duration to prevent wastage.

Adaptive Flow Rate: Adjusts the water flow based on hand movement to minimize excessive use.

Leak Prevention Technology: Detects leaks or continuous water flow and shuts off the tap to conserve water.

With growing concerns about water scarcity, installing a premium tap with water-saving features contributes to sustainability while reducing utility bills.

3. Temperature Control for User Comfort

Temperature control is another key feature in modern luxury bathroom tap designs. Some sensor faucet models allow users to preset their desired water temperature for a comfortable experience. Key benefits include:

Pre-set Temperature Settings: Maintains a consistent temperature to prevent sudden fluctuations.

Anti-Scald Protection: Prevents extremely hot water from being dispensed, reducing burn risks.

Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMV): Ensures safe and precise water temperature regulation.

This feature is particularly useful in homes with children or elderly individuals who need extra safety measures while using the sink.

4. Smart Integration with Home Automation Systems

The latest sensor tap models can be connected to smart home automation systems, allowing users to control water usage remotely. Some smart integration capabilities include:

Voice Activation: Syncing the sensor faucet with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free control.

App Connectivity: Monitoring water consumption and adjusting settings via a mobile app.

Customizable Timers: Setting usage schedules to optimize energy and water efficiency.

With home automation technology expanding, smart luxury bathroom tap designs bring a new level of convenience to modern living spaces.

5. Self-Cleaning and Anti-Bacterial Coating

To further enhance hygiene, some sensor tap models come with self-cleaning mechanisms and anti-bacterial coatings. These advanced features include:

Anti-Microbial Surface Coatings: Reduces bacterial buildup on the tap surface.

Self-Cleaning Nozzles: Prevents mineral deposits and limescale buildup, ensuring long-term functionality.

UV Sterilization: Some premium tap models integrate UV light technology to disinfect the water and internal components.

These features help maintain a cleaner and more hygienic bathroom environment, making them a great choice for healthcare facilities and households.

6. Energy-Efficient and Battery-Powered Models

Many sensor tap designs now prioritize energy efficiency, offering battery-powered and low-energy-consuming models. Some notable energy-efficient features include:

Low-Power Consumption Sensors: Infrared sensors with optimized power usage.

Battery-Operated Options: Rechargeable or long-lasting batteries for uninterrupted operation.

Solar-Powered Variants: Eco-friendly sensor faucet models that use solar energy for operation.

These energy-efficient solutions reduce the need for frequent power consumption while ensuring uninterrupted functionality.

7. Adjustable Water Pressure and Spray Patterns

Unlike traditional taps, modern sensor tap models offer multiple spray patterns and adjustable water pressure. Some variations include:

Aerated Spray: Mixes air with water to create a smooth and splash-free flow.

Pulsating Spray: Provides a massaging effect, ideal for washing hands comfortably.

Mist Mode: Offers a fine mist spray for gentle hand-washing or rinsing delicate items.

Having adjustable water pressure enhances user experience, providing flexibility based on different washing needs.

8. Leak Detection and Auto Shut-Off Mechanism

A sensor tap with built-in leak detection helps prevent water damage and wastage. These models:

Detect Unusual Water Flow: Automatically shut off if continuous or excessive water flow is detected.

Prevent Pipe Damage: Reduces the risk of leaks by monitoring pressure changes.

Notify Users via Smart Apps: Alerts users about potential leaks or maintenance requirements.

By using this technology, homeowners can prevent water wastage and minimize plumbing issues.

9. Customizable Aesthetic Designs and Finishes

A sensor tap is not just functional but also enhances the bathroom’s aesthetics. Many high-end luxury bathroom tap models come with various finishes to match modern interiors, such as:

Matte Black for an Elegant Look

Brushed Gold for a Luxurious Appeal

Polished Chrome for a Classic Finish

These customizable options allow homeowners to match their bathroom fixtures with their interior design preferences.

10. Dual-Mode Functionality for Manual and Sensor Use

Some sensor tap models offer dual-mode operation, allowing users to switch between sensor-activated and manual use. This feature is beneficial in:

Low Battery Situations: Ensures usability even when battery power is low.

Custom Water Flow Needs: Allows manual adjustments for tasks requiring continuous water flow.

Multi-User Households: Provides flexibility for users who prefer traditional tap operation.

This hybrid functionality ensures convenience and adaptability in diverse settings.

Final Thoughts

Modern sensor tap technology has evolved significantly, offering a wide range of advanced features that enhance hygiene, water efficiency, and convenience. From smart home integration and temperature control to leak detection and energy efficiency, a sensor faucet is a must-have fixture in contemporary bathrooms.

As the demand for luxury bathroom tap and premium tap designs grows, investing in an advanced sensor tap ensures a more efficient, eco-friendly, and stylish bathroom experience. Whether for residential or commercial use, these high-tech taps redefine the way we interact with water, making everyday tasks more seamless and intelligent.